MURDER INVESTIGATION ARREST – 3500 BLOCK OF SANTA FE AVENUE

Homicide detectives are investigating a murder of a female adult victim that occurred on Sept. 15, 2024, in the 3500 block of Santa Fe Avenue.

At approximately 2:54 a.m.,officers were dispatched to a possible burglary in progress call at a gated community. Upon arrival, officers found the victim lying in a roadway near the dispatch location suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim was determined deceased at the scene.

Officers detained a male adult subject near the scene,who was later determined to be the suspect. The suspect was arrested and transported to Long Beach City Jail for booking.

The suspect has been identified as Leonard Lee Rowles Jr., a 24-year-old resident of Long Beach, who was booked on one count of murder. Bail was set a $2,000,000.

While detectives have determinedthat the suspect and victim were in a dating relationship, the motive and circumstances leading up to the stabbingare still under investigation.   

The victim has been identified as Alejandra Acosta Butron, a 30-year-old female resident of Long Beach.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Michael Hutchinson or Lisette Temblador at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smartphone (available at the Apple app store or Google Play), or by visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.