Police release surveillance video of man sought in fatal shooting of Long Beach mom, 4-year-old daughter

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- (KTLA) -- Long Beach police released surveillance video Monday showing a man being sought in the unsolved shooting of a mother and her 4-year-old daughter, who were killed last month.

Carina Mancera, 26, and her daughter, Jennabel Anaya, were shot to death at close range near East Ninth Street and Locust Avenue as they returned home from the grocery store on the night of Aug. 6, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Mancera, who was shot multiple times, died at the scene. Her daughter was pronounced dead at a local hospital early the next morning.

The killer also shot at 27-year-old Luis Anaya, Mancera's longtime boyfriend and Jennabel's father, who was with the two at the time. He was not hit by the gunfire.

On Monday afternoon, police released two videos showing a man they described as a "person of interest" in the shooting. They hope the released of the video will lead to the identity of the person shown.

Investigators want to interview the man, police homicide Lt. Lloyd Cox said.

"We believe he's a person that we're interested in talking to that may have some involvement in the case," Cox said. "He is not a suspect at this time. He is a person of interest only."

One video is from a surveillance camera at a downtown Long Beach convenience store and was taken shortly after the shooting, according to police Chief Robert Luna said.

The man appears very nervous and repeatedly wipes his face and head with a cloth in the video. The store's exact location was not being revealed.

The other video, also from that evening, shows the man on a Blue Line Metro train a short time after the killings. He boarded at Fifth Street and and Long Beach Boulevard and exited the train at the San Pedro Street station, in the south part of downtown Los Angeles, Luna said.

Police have spoken to other passengers who were on the train with the man, Cox said.

The man may have fled California, Luna said. In both videos, he is seen with a wheeled piece of luggage.

The man is described as African American, in his 20s or 30s, of medium height, 220 to 250 pounds, and with facial hair.

The development marks the first possible break in a case that has left investigators "baffled."

"We don't have any idea on why this occurred or what the motive may have been in this case," Cox said Monday. "It's very tragic."

The family had no known enemies, and there was no indication of gang ties, police have said.

In the days following the double fatal shooting, investigators pleaded for the public's help after few immediately came forward with information about the homicide.

"Somebody out there saw something. Somebody out there has information ... we need you to come forward," Police Luna said six days after the shooting, noting that police had received just three phone calls about the case up until that point.

A $40,000 reward has been offered for information about the shooting.

Anyone with information or who recognizes the man is urged to call Long Beach Police Department's homicide detail at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be left by calling 800-222-8477, texting “TIPLA” plus the tip to 274637, or by going to the website lacrimestoppers.org.