Daily Breeze – by Larry Altman
The brother of a Carson man killed at an arcade this week by Long Beach police said Thursday his family was in mourning and trying to comprehend what happened.
Khanly Saycon II said his family does not know why his brother, 39-year-old Mharloun Verdejo Saycon, was involved in the confrontation with officers at Looff’s Lite-A-Line Casino Game of Skill. Saycon died at the scene of the 10 p.m. Monday shooting on Long Beach Boulevard at 25th Street.
“We don’t understand what happened,” the brother said. “We are trying to figure it out right now. We are grieving at the same time.”
According to police, officers responded to the arcade following reports of a man waving a knife. Some customers fled in fear for their lives.
Police said Mharloun Saycon had been thrown out of the business earlier for being disruptive.
Once officers arrived, the man disregarded orders to drop the knife and was shot, Long Beach police Sgt. Bradley Johnson said.
“Officers tried a less-lethal electronic control device and baton, and neither less-lethal force was effective,” Johnson said. “No officers or citizens were injured.”
Mharloun Saycon’s brother declined to speak more about the investigation.
“As of right now, we’d like to just have some space and time just to grieve on his behalf,” the brother said.
Friends and relatives asked for support on Facebook. Dandalisa Spritz, a cousin, asked for prayers for Mharloun Saycon’s family, saying they mourned “another heartbreaking loss.” She added “#alllivesmatter.”
Mike Zona wrote, “I know there r alot of supporters for my belated brother MHARLOUN SAYCON, we have good people on our side. Thank you for all the thoughts n prayers, from my family to yours.”
Jail records show Mharloun Saycon died one day after Carson sheriff’s deputies arrested him on a warrant charging him with vandalism committed on March 10, 2012. Records show he was arrested at 5:49 a.m. Sunday and released on $5,565 bail at 4:35 p.m.
He had a court date scheduled for Monday, but it was unclear if he appeared.
City News Service contributed to this article.