WILMINGTON, LOS ANGELES: A man was reportedly fatally shot while volunteering at a violence-prevention event in Wilmington, leaving his family devastated. An official with the Los Angeles Police Department noted that the shooting took place at around 10.10 pm on Thursday, July 27, outside the Wilmington Recreation Centre, between Bay View Avenue and D Street, where a Summer Night Lights youth program was being held.
Upon their arrival, the responding officers discovered 46-year-old Jose Quezada had sustained several gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts, the father-of-three was pronounced dead on the sidewalk. Authorities reported that he was shot and killed as he was leaving the gathering after cooking food for the attendees. He had stepped away from the event when two men approached him and one opened fire, police said. LAPD investigators are currently searching for the suspects, who were seen fleeing the scene after the shooting. Officials also said that they believe the shooting to be gang-related, though Quezada has no criminal history or ties to gangs.
Who was Jose Quezada?
Hailing from Carson, Quezada worked as a sports coach. He is survived by his wife and three sons. His wife, Sandy, remembered him as a loving husband. She said, “Whoever did this to my husband, you just really put a hole in our heart. Having to explain to my 10-year-old that his dad is no longer here, it's gonna be the hardest thing for us to do," adding that Quezada had worked as a volunteer at the leisure center for more than 20 years, doing any odd jobs to provide for his children.
"He just enjoyed it. That was part of him; he was such a humble, loving, giving person. ... He never fought with anyone. Everyone in the community loved him, so for this to have happened to him — it's just heartbreaking and you really destroyed our family," Sandy said, according to CBS News. Quezada's close friend described him as a “beacon of light." "He's just one of those guys that will ... when you're down, he'll lift you back up with, whether it be something funny ... he always had the right words,” Chuey told ABC 7. A GoFundMe page has been set up by the man's loved ones to raise funds for helping his family pay for his funeral.
'They need to stop this senseless violence'
LA Mayor Karen Bass also mourned Quezada’s death. She said in a statement, "Last night, a dedicated Wilmington community member and someone who has volunteered with Summer Night Lights to uplift his community was killed in a horrific act of violence. This community leader lost his life to the very type of violence he was working so hard to prevent. I join his loved ones in grieving his loss. This incident is a tragic reminder that we must fight even harder to ensure that our communities have the tools that they need to stop this senseless violence,” the statement continued.
Anyone with information on the shooting and suspects involved is urged to contact LAPD investigators at (877) 527-3247.
