News Update

Long Beach Unified safety officer charged with murder in shooting of teen mother

The Long Beach Unified school safety officer who shot and killed an 18-year-old mother was charged Wednesday with murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Eddie Gonzalez, 51, was patrolling near Long Beach’s Millikan High School on Sept. 27 when he noticed an altercation between 18-year-old Manuela “Mona” Rodriguez and another teen girl. Footage of the incident showed Rodriguez getting into the rear passenger seat of a nearby car. While the car drove away Gonzalez was seen allegedly firing his handgun at the car.

Rodriguez was struck and was taken to a hospital where she died about a week later. Gonzalez was promptly fired through a unanimous vote by the district’s school board, the Southern California News Group reported.