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Ruben Martin Lopez Becerra, 25

 Ruben Martin Lopez Becerra, a 25-year-old Latino, died on Monday, July 1, after he was shot in the 1200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner records.

Lopez Becerra was driving south on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue around 8:40 p.m. with a friend and family member, according to Long Beach Police spokeswoman Shaunna Dandoy; a 19-year-old male in the front seat and an 18-year-old female in the rear.

Investigators believe Lopez Becerra got into an argument with a group of men who were sitting  near 12th Street, and the men fired several shots toward the car, according to the department news release. 

Lopez Becerra was struck in the upper torso and drove himself to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m., according to coroner's records. The cause of death was listed as gunshot wounds. 

Neither of the  passengers were injured, but a 17-year-old boy who was walking in the area was struck by gunfire and taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening wound to the lower torso, said Dandoy.  Investigators believe he was an unintended target.

As a result of the shooting, the department has increased "high-visibility" patrols along the Anaheim Street corridor, according to the release. Investigators believe the shooting was gang-related. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Dets. Ricardo Solorio and Shea Robertson at (562) 570-7244. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

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