This is one of many unsolved homicides in Los Angeles County that has been featured in Cuffed and Wanted, Los Angeles County's only crime specific newspaper. The police need the communities assistance to solve this homicide and get the murder off the street. This is a good family that needs justice.
On November 29, 2012 Joseluis Cruz Jr. was working in the city of Long Beach at A&T Pawnshop on the corner of Long Beach Blvd and Market Ave, where he’d worked for 5 years. About 3:30 Joseluis was asked to deliver a package to the post office by his boss. While driving his Red 2006 SRT8 Dodge Magnum, he was shot and killed by a black male from the back seat of a Maroon 2002-2006 Nissan Altima with chrome door handles. The shooting happened around 3:45-4:10 pm on Cedar & Plymouth St. Although Joseluis was gone the day he was shot, he wasn’t pronounced dead until 12/01/2012.
In the words of his grieving family: Joseluis was our only son and brother. He had four sisters who loved him dearly. Joseluis was my 4th born child out of 5. He was our pride and joy and we all loved and protected him since the day he was born. We were blessed to have had a wonderful son and brother. Joseluis was a 23 year old, hardworking, very independent and wonderful son, brother, uncle, godfather, and father of 3 wonderful young children ages 5, 3 and 2. He left behind his parents, sisters, girlfriend, and children unexpectedly. We miss him dearly.
To this very day, we mourn his loss. We cry daily for his absence and we are all still very hurt for his unexpected departure. We are still lost without him, his love, his laugh, his smile, his voice and his touch. It has been very, very difficult to continue life without our baby boy. We are, and have always been a very, EXTREMELY united family. We would gather every weekend for family dinners, barbecues, laughs… family time. We all shared a special family bond, which many admired.
Many were shocked to have learned this tragic loss struck our family, being such a giving and loving, united and happy family. Our family chain has been broken. Our pain is immense and indescribable. Joseluis was such a character. Not one day went by without him making his family laugh with his silliness. Joseluis had just turned 23 years old, shortly before his passing. He was very responsible and caring and was very mature compared to many 23 year old’s. He dedicated his short life to his family and children.
Joseluis had a passion for art. He loved to draw unique characters and would love to paint his own art canvases, which he believed would make him rich one day. His hobby was his car. He spent hours making his car look nice and clean. Joseluis described his car as his “other girl.” Please help us find justice to get the person that not only killed our son, brother, uncle, father, & friend....but killed all of us who loved him dearly.
Anyone with information on the senseless murder is urged to call Long Beach Police Detectives Hugo Cortes 562 577-4501 or Peter Lackovic 562 254-8586
