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Ahkeem Dashawn Johnson, 27

Ahkeem Dashawn Johnson, a 27-year-old black man, died Tuesday, April 8, after he was stabbed in the 2000 block of Locust Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 1:20 a.m., Long Beach police responded to a call of a person screaming in the area. When officers arrived, they found Johnson with stab wounds in his upper body.

Johnson was pronounced dead at 1:37 a.m. at the scene, said coroner’s spokesman Ed Winter.

Johnson's cousin, Bryant Keith Underwood, a 29-year-old black man, was arrested on suspicion of murder the same day, according to online court records.

A preliminary investigation showed that the two were arguing before the stabbing, according to a news release from the Long Beach Police Department.

On April 10 Underwood pleaded not guilty to one count of murder with a special allegation that he used a knife during the killing, according a news release from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

If convicted, Underwood faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Anyone with information is asked to call Long Beach Police Dets. Todd Johnson and Roger Zottneck at (562) 570-7244. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

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