Dad is shot and killed in front of 7-year-old son on Father’s Day, California cops say
After a man was fatally shot and his 7-year-old son was injured on Father’s Day, police are searching for a suspect, California officials said.
Police arrived at around 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, at the intersection of Anaheim Street and Roswell Avenue in Long Beach, the Long Beach Police Department said in a news release. They found Leevi Matuni Maseuli, 30, with a gunshot wound to his upper body.
Maseuli was sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with his 7-year-old son when he was shot, police said.
“To commit such a heinous crime in any circumstance is unacceptable, but to do so on Father’s Day in front of the victim’s child is even more disgraceful,” Police Chief Wally Hebeish said.
Maseuli was taken to a hospital where he died, police said. The 7-year-old wasn’t shot but suffered “minor non-life-threatening injuries,” and was taken to a hospital before being released to his mother.
“No child should ever have to endure an experience like this and I am asking the public to please speak up with any information, no matter how small, that could help us find those responsible for this callous act of violence,” Hebeish said.
Homicide detectives do not have a “suspect description or known motive for the shooting,” police said.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Homicide Detectives Michael Hubbard and Jesus Espinoza at (562) 570-7244. For anonymous tips, call 800-222-TIPS (8477).
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Dad is shot and killed in front of 7-year-old son on Father’s Day, California cops say."
