The investigation shut down the northbound lanes of the freeway for hours Saturday night. The closure started just south of the Interstate 710 interchange after California Highway Patrol officers discovered the bodies.
Authorities identified the men as 36-year-old Derek Alexander Puono of Long Beach and 37-year-old Reginald Watson Sajonas of Anaheim.
The SUV was pulled over to the right shoulder of the freeway near the Long Beach Boulevard off ramp. Long Beach police officers said the victims appeared to have suffered several gunshot wounds. Detectives said it was unknown exactly where the shooting happened.
"It could've been a car-to-car shooting, it could've been that they were shot prior to getting on the freeway," Long Beach police Sgt. Rico Fernandez said. "We don't know if they were followed. We don't as of yet have a crime scene, we only have the location of where the bodies were found."
Authorities said shots were fired nearby while officers were investigating the scene, but it was unrelated to the double murder case.
"We are looking into the possibility of whether or not either of the two victims had affiliation or association with gangs," Fernandez said.
Investigators do not have any suspects in custody.
If you have any information about this case, you're urged to call Long Beach homicide detectives at (562) 570-7244.
