A Long Beach judge has ruled there is enough evidence for two men to stand trial in the killing of a longtime Wrigley neighborhood street vendor, a man neighbors knew for his corn and shaved ice cart. Yener Ramirez-Miranda was shot on March 20, 2024, while selling on Eagle Street just west of Locust Avenue and later died from his injuries.
Judge Allows Case To Proceed
During a preliminary hearing in Long Beach Superior Court, prosecutors played security-camera footage that, according to the Long Beach Post, showed four men getting out of a gray Honda Civic and opening fire. Prosecutors say the gunmen missed their intended target and instead struck Ramirez-Miranda. After hearing testimony and reviewing the footage, the judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to send two of the men to trial.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged Rahman Abdallah and Raylon Akers with murder, and prosecutors say Akers also faces a count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A third man faces an accessory charge, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The charges followed investigators turning over surveillance video and other evidence to prosecutors.
Detectives’ Investigation And Arrests
Detectives used surveillance footage and license-plate information to track down the gray Honda and began rounding up suspects in July 2024, with a fourth suspect rebooked in November 2025, according to fourth suspect arrested in the case. Officers executed search warrants, recovered multiple firearms and, according to police, determined that Ramirez-Miranda was an innocent bystander who was not involved in gang activity.
Forensic Evidence Presented In Court
At the hearing, a forensic scientist from the Long Beach Police Department testified that officers collected 25 shell casings at the scene, all fired from four different firearms. Investigators also recovered a DNA sample from a chain-link fence that matched the registered owner of the Honda, according to the Long Beach Post.
Detectives pointed to video frames they say show one shooter wearing gray Adidas Yeezy shoes. Testimony also indicated that Abdallah later admitted to firing shots and identified Akers as being in the car. Prosecutors contend the attack was a botched gang ambush and that the intended target escaped while Ramirez-Miranda was hit instead.
One earlier defendant, James Havlicheck, pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact and received a three-year sentence, but he was released because his jail credits exceeded that term. Akers and Abdallah remained in custody on $3 million bail each and were due back in court on Feb. 24, 2026.
Charges, Bail And Next Steps
The July 2024 news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office outlined the formal counts and noted that prosecutors were moving forward after reviewing evidence from investigators. Following the judge’s ruling at the preliminary hearing, prosecutors are preparing for trial while investigators continue to refine the case.
Community Impact
Family members told the Los Angeles Times that Ramirez-Miranda had been selling corn and shaved ice in the neighborhood for about 15 years and was a familiar presence near Lafayette Elementary School. City officials and police have publicly condemned the killing and said they will continue efforts to disrupt gang violence, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
