Long Beach, California – August 1, 2025:
Troy Lamar Fox, 34, has been sentenced to 358 years to life in prison for the murder of a 17-year-old girl and a separate attempted mass shooting weeks later, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
Fox was convicted in March of first-degree murder in the death of Briana Soto, a high school senior who was gunned down near her home while walking back from her shift at McDonald’s on the night of March 26, 2024.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, Soto was just steps away from her house near 11th Street and Lewis Avenue when she was shot at approximately 8:30 p.m. Investigators said she had been speaking to her mother on the phone moments before the attack, and her mother reportedly heard the gunshots that ended her daughter’s life.
In a chilling detail reported by CBS News, Soto’s mother called her back immediately after the shooting, only for a man to answer the phone. He said something unintelligible before the call ended. Soto was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and died three days later.
Surveillance video released by police showed a masked suspect dressed entirely in black walking near the crime scene shortly before the shooting. Authorities believe Fox fled immediately after firing the fatal shots and concluded that there was no known connection between him and Soto.
Just two weeks later, on April 9, 2024, Fox escalated his violence. According to prosecutors, he opened fire on a vehicle containing three minors and one adult on the 1300 block of Pine Avenue. All four victims survived the attack. Police later charged Fox with attempted murder in that case.
Three months after that, on July 7, 2024, Long Beach police arrested Fox and a minor at 4th Street and Pine Avenue for illegally possessing six firearms. By September, while Fox was already in custody, detectives had secured a warrant for his arrest in connection to Soto’s murder.
Fox’s extensive criminal history included prior convictions for attempted robbery and making criminal threats, which prosecutors used during sentencing to argue for the maximum penalty. The court agreed, handing down a 358-years-to-life sentence, ensuring Fox will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the sentencing a moment of accountability for an unprovoked and senseless act of violence.
“Briana Soto had her whole life ahead of her — she was getting ready for her prom, her 18th birthday, and graduation,” Hochman said. “Today’s sentence ensures the person who stole her future will never be free to harm another innocent person. While this punishment cannot undo the pain he caused, it is a step toward justice for Briana, her loved ones, and our community.”
Despite the extensive investigation and trial, Fox’s motive remains unknown. Prosecutors did not present a clear reason for the shooting during court proceedings, and there was no indication that Soto was specifically targeted.
The Soto family, devastated by the loss of their daughter, continues to mourn the life that was taken far too soon. Friends and relatives described Briana as hardworking, kind, and full of promise.
The District Attorney’s Office emphasized that the case underlines the urgency of addressing gun violence and the importance of community cooperation in identifying and apprehending dangerous offenders before further tragedies occur.
