Man accused of a downtown Long Beach murder told investigators he believed his neighbor poisoned his food, documents say – Press Telegram

A 64-year-old man accused of shooting his neighbor in downtown Long Beach testified that his neighbor repeatedly broke into his apartment and poisoned his food, according to court documents obtained by the Southern California News Group.

John Higginbotham was arrested on Wednesday, July 10, shortly after Long Beach police arrived in the 700 block of East First Street and found 72-year-old Maxwell Fromm dead in his apartment with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.

In a search warrant filed in Long Beach Superior Court to search Higginbotham's blue Honda Civic for evidence of firearms and electronic devices, investigators wrote that Higginbotham spontaneously told police, “My hands are up! It's right there,” apparently referring to a firearm lying on a piece of furniture.

This black 9mm pistol has no serial number and belongs to a type of weapon commonly referred to as a “ghost gun,” according to court documents.

Higginbotham later told investigators he believed Fromm had tampered with and damaged his car, investigators wrote in court documents.

Inside the suspect's apartment, investigators also found a clear glass pipe with the inside lined with a cream-colored, charred substance, as well as a clear plastic bag containing a cream-colored substance believed to be methamphetamine, documents say.

According to court records, Higginbotham has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

Higginbotham's lawyers were not immediately available for comment.