Murder Trial Begins for Huntington Beach Shooting
Tyrell Avion Lee and Jermaine Anthony Bell face murder charges for the 2022 killing of Jimmy Sengpaseuth.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Crime — General
The murder trial for defendants Tyrell Avion Lee and Jermaine Anthony Bell officially began this week. The duo stands accused of the 2022 fatal shooting of 31-year-old Jimmy Sengpaseuth in Huntington Beach.
Why it matters
Prosecutors allege a coordinated effort to track and ambush the victim using advanced surveillance methods. The trial seeks to establish the roles of the defendants and their alleged accomplices in the orchestrated attack.
Tyrell Avion Lee and Jermaine Anthony Bell are charged with murder with special circumstances of lying in wait and assault with a semiautomatic firearm. An additional co-conspirator, June Chess, was indicted for conspiracy to commit murder in August 2026.
The players
Tyrell Avion Lee
The 37-year-old defendant is charged with murder with special circumstances and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Jermaine Anthony Bell
The 43-year-old defendant faces charges for the fatal shooting and is alleged to have had family vehicles involved in the surveillance.
Jimmy Sengpaseuth
The 31-year-old victim was fatally shot in the 5200 block of Tasman Drive in Huntington Beach.
June Chess
The 36-year-old was indicted in August 2026 for conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the case.
Victoria Huynh
The survivor of the shooting was present during the incident where the victim lost his life.
The details
Evidence presented includes GPS tracking technology placed on the victim's vehicle and cellphone location pings that allegedly place the defendants at the scene. Authorities also recovered a mask containing the DNA of Tyrell Avion Lee and June Chess.
Timeline
October 2022: Liem Pham purchased a GPS tracker.
November 29, 2022: A GPS tracker was activated on the victim's vehicle.
December 5, 2022: Jimmy Sengpaseuth was fatally shot.
August 2026: June Chess was indicted for conspiracy to commit murder.
October 29, 2026: The murder trial for Lee and Bell began.
Legal Context
The prosecution's focus on the lying in wait enhancement reflects standard legal strategies used in California to elevate charges for premeditated ambush murders. This case adds to the local history of high-profile conspiracy trials involving surveillance-based crimes.
Residents near Tasman Drive may observe increased activity and security presence at the courthouse throughout the duration of the trial. No immediate safety advisories have been issued to the public regarding the ongoing legal proceedings.
The takeaway
This case highlights the growing role of digital evidence, such as GPS trackers and license plate readers, in modern criminal investigations. Readers are reminded that such technology is increasingly used by law enforcement to link suspects to crime scenes in complex conspiracy cases.
Further reading
For ongoing updates regarding local legal proceedings, visit the Huntington Beach Crime — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by My News LA.
