Man Dies Month After Long Beach Assault, Suspect Now Charged With Murder

LONG BEACH, CA — A man critically injured in a Long Beach assault last month has died, leading prosecutors to amend the charge against the suspect arrested that night to murder, police announced Wednesday.

The Aug. 1 attack occurred in the 1800 block of Long Beach Boulevard, where officers responding to a report of a man with a gun found an adult male victim who appeared to have been assaulted, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

The victim was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Police located 49-year-old Zetty Jerome Welch at the time of the incident and arrested him on suspicion of battery causing serious bodily injury. Welch was described by police as a person experiencing homelessness.

Victim Dies Nearly A Month Later

The case took a more serious turn Aug. 31, when homicide detectives were notified that the victim had succumbed to his injuries.

Following the man's death, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office amended Welch's charge to murder, according to LBPD. He was being held on $2 million bail Wednesday.

Police have not disclosed what led to the Aug. 1 confrontation, and the motive remains under investigation.

The victim's identity was also being withheld pending identification and notification of his next of kin by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact Long Beach homicide Detectives Eric Thai or Chasen Contreras at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted to LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3 Tips app or through the LA Crime Stoppers website.