Los Angeles man Phillip Williamson, 29, was found in an alley on the 1500 block of Pine Avenue in Long Beach on March 24 with a gunshot wound to the torso. He was hospitalized in critical condition and died the next night.
An investigation revealed Williamson was involved in marijuana distribution between Long Beach and Chico, California. Williamson allegedly collected marijuana in Chico and transported it to dispensaries in Los Angeles.
Police believe Williamson may have had several pounds of marijuana and $500,000 in cash with him when he was attacked.
Investigators traced several leads to Chico.
Search warrants were served in Chico, Long Beach and Granada Hills the week of July 25.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, On Friday, July 29, 2011, 33-year-old Rosemary Sayegh of Granada Hills was arrested, and on Saturday, July 30, 2011, 28-year-old Marcel Mackabee, also of Granada Hills and husband of Rosemary, was arrested in Chico. On Tuesday, August 2, 2011, detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, who in turn has charged defendant Sayegh with one count of accessory to murder, and charged defendant Mackabee with one count of murder.
During the investigation, it was confirmed that Marcel Mackabee was the individual depicted in video surveillance footage from a convenience store in the Los Angeles/Beverly Hills area that was released to the public on July 11, 2011. The receipt from Mackabee's purchase was later found in Victim Williamson's residence. Based on the investigation, detectives believe this murder was orchestrated for the sole purpose of committing a robbery, according to the department.
The investigation into Victim Williamson's death remains ongoing and it is anticipated that additional arrests will be made. The $10,000 reward offered in this case by the Los Angeles County Supervisor's Office has generated helpful information to the investigation, but detectives are still asking for the public's help with information regarding this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch and Donald Goodman at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may also be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com.
