Man charged in fatal stabbing in Long Beach

Charges were filed Wednesday against a man accused of fatally stabbing one man and injuring another man during an altercation in Long Beach.

Michael Smalls, 56, is set to be arraigned Thursday in a Long Beach courtroom on one count each of murder and attempted murder, according to Greg Risling with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Smalls was arrested Monday by Long Beach Police Department homicide investigators in connection with the killing of Christopher Finley, 28, of Long Beach, according to police.

Police were called at approximately 11:47 p.m. Friday  to the 1700 block of East Broadway, two blocks west of Cherry Avenue, regarding an assault with a deadly weapon and found Finley and another man suffering from stab wounds, according to a statement released by Long Beach police.

The two victims — who had each been stabbed in the upper body — were taken to a hospital, where Finley died Saturday of his injuries, police said.

Police said detectives believe the fatal stabbing stemmed from two altercations, including one in which Smalls allegedly stabbed the two victims during a confrontation before fleeing on a bicycle.

The two victims had also apparently been involved in an earlier altercation with a man who was armed with a stun gun and who was detained at the scene and arrested on suspicion of an unrelated charge, police said.

Smalls has remained behind bars in lieu of $2 million bail since he was taken into custody, jail records show.

“My heart goes out to the family of the man who was senselessly killed in Long Beach,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement provided to City News Service.

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