LONG BEACH, CA – A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Long Beach neighborhood in which a father reportedly killed his 5-year-old daughter before committing suicide. The chilling discovery was made following a nearly 10-hour standoff initiated after a report of domestic violence.
The perpetrator, identified as 39-year-old Chase Phillip Powell, is believed to have shot his young daughter. According to neighbors, the 5-year-old child was identified as Aspen Powell.
The scene was initiated around 3 p.m. on the 3400 block of Adriatic Avenue, where Long Beach police responded to a domestic violence call. On arrival, police noticed smoke and flames emanating from the residence. This discovery was coupled with potential gunfire, as mentioned in an official release.
Officers, prompted by concerns of a child’s presence within the burning home, made their tragic discovery of Aspen’s body, bearing a gunshot wound. Following the extinguishing of the fire, SWAT negotiators struggled unsuccessfully to engage with the barricaded suspect.
Later, officers secured a search warrant and eventually found Powell dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The potential murder-suicide case is currently under investigation, with two firearms having been recovered from the scene.
The incident, described as a “heartbreaking act of domestic violence” by Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish, further compounded family grief as the child’s mother was already mourning the recent loss of her own father.
According to neighborhood accounts, escalating tensions and frequent yelling were noted coming from the home, occupied by the deceased alongside his wife and dog.