Suspect Arrested in Long Beach Murder; GoFundMe Page Created for Victims
A suspect in the murder of Christopher Finley, a 28-year-old resident of Long Beach, CA, was arrested. "Long Beach police detectives arrested 56-year-old Michael Smalls of Long Beach at an undisclosed location Tuesday," reports Los Angeles news outlet KTLA.
CBSNews reports: "According to Long Beach Police Department, the incident began at around 11:50 p.m. at a local gay bar called the Mineshaft Bar located on 1720 E. Broadway after a reportedly drunk man was asked to leave the property. He returned to the bar with a taser and was threatening other patrons at the bar when Finley and his partner, Jake Stone (aka Jacob Touchstone), tried to diffuse t[sic] he situation."
Instead the situation worsened. "The dispute escalated into physical fight between the three people before a fourth person joined in — a man riding by on a bicycle, who stabbed Finley in the chest and Stone in the side before riding off on his bicycle."
Finley and Stone were rushed to a hospital, where Finley died.
On behalf of Jacob Touchstone, Danika Cervantes has created a GoFundMe page for Chris and Jake's medical funds. It reads:
"On Friday, September 9th, Chris and Jake went out on what was supposed to be a perfect date night. After dinner, they stopped at their usual spot in Long Beach for a nightcap. Outside the bar, in an attempt to help diffuse [sic] a heated situation, a fight ensued that ended with both Jake and Chris being stabbed. They were both rushed to the hospital where Chris ultimately passed away the morning of September 10th. Thankfully, Jake is home and recovering.
"Jake and Chris' love story started in 2016. From then on, there was never a Jake without a Chris. They had ups and they had downs and they even tried the whole time apart thing, without ever really leaving each others' lives. It has always been and will always be Chris and Jake forever. They are each others' end game and anyone who knew them for more than 2 minutes would know that. The love that these two had for each other is the kind most people never find.
"Funds from this GoFundMe me will be used for the medical bills for both Chris & Jake, expenses to lay Chris to rest, his memorial, and to help cover Jake while he is out of work recovering."
Stone was released and posted a heartfelt message on IG about Finley:
"Today I said goodbye to the love of my life. I don't even know how to put into words the way we completed each other and I will never be whole again. You are my world. You were the light in so many peoples lives and our worlds will never be the same. I love you and dream of the day I see you again. I'm so thankful to have captured our love on camera moments before this all happened. Forever my babe and forever your bub."
He added: "Chris and I were stabbed last night and today Chris lost his fight. I am recovering in the hospital. Please give me and his family and close friends space as we process this please."
In response to the incident, Mineshaft Bar owners Jeff and Rhonda Darling released a statement that reads in part: "This is such a tragedy and I am deeply saddened by this senseless violence. My heart goes out to the love ones of the person that lost his life and the family and friends of the person still hospitalized. Love will bring our neighborhood together and not let violence win. We have always wanted the Mineshaft to be a safe place in the community but this serves as message that tragedy can strike at any time."