Long Beach Shooter Sentenced to 144 Years
A Long Beach man received a life sentence for the murder of a 12-year-old boy in a 2023 shooting.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Violence
Reshawn Jonae Strother was sentenced to 144 years to life in state prison for the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Eric Gregory Brown III in Long Beach. The 24-year-old defendant was convicted by a jury in September for his role in the May 2023 attack.
Why it matters
The sentencing concludes a violent case stemming from a retaliatory drive-by shooting in Long Beach. The defendant sought revenge after being shot at while driving earlier the same day.
Reshawn Jonae Strother received a sentence of 144 years to life in state prison following a jury conviction. His accomplice, Destenee Scipio, was previously sentenced to six years after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
The players
Reshawn Jonae Strother
The 24-year-old defendant was sentenced to 144 years to life for his role in the fatal 2023 shooting.
Eric Gregory Brown III
The 12-year-old victim was killed during the retaliatory shooting in Long Beach.
Destenee Scipio
An accomplice who pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received a six-year prison sentence.
The details
Strother targeted three children at Lewis Avenue and Hill Street as retaliation for an earlier drive-by attempt near Orange Avenue and Hellman Street. The attack resulted in the death of 12-year-old Eric Gregory Brown III, while a 14-year-old girl was wounded and a 13-year-old girl remained uninjured.
Timeline
The shooting occurred in Long Beach on May 9, 2023.
Defendants were arrested in July 2023.
A jury convicted Strother in September 2026.
Destenee Scipio received a six-year sentence on September 30, 2026.
Reshawn Jonae Strother was sentenced on October 7, 2026.
Legal Context
This sentencing follows the legal pattern set by the 2026 sentencing of Destenee Scipio for her involvement in the same crime. The case highlights the severe sentencing guidelines applied to violent crimes involving youth in Long Beach Superior Court.
The sentencing concludes legal proceedings that have been ongoing since the 2023 shooting. Residents are reminded that local police continue to monitor gang-related activity to maintain public safety in the affected neighborhoods.
The takeaway
This case emphasizes the long-term consequences of retaliatory violence within the community. Legal experts often cite the severity of these sentences as a deterrent against further violent acts in the Long Beach area.
Further reading
For more on local law enforcement efforts, visit the Violence section.
