Family calls beloved man's murder at family reunion a hate crime

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Grio


By Kia Morgan-Smith - July 24, 2018

A Black man who took at bathroom break while at a family reunion was shot and killed and his family believes he targeted and the victim of a racist attack.

Frederick Taft, was killed in Pan American Park over the weekend after witnesses said a white man with a rifle emerged from the bathroom and is believed to be the killer of the 57-year-old truck driver from Long Beach, Calif.

Taft was with about 40 or 50 family members, according to his nephew David Malonson, when he stepped away to use the restroom. The 35-year-old remembered his uncle as a dedicated family man who could do it all and everyone could count on.

. . .

Sakeena Christmon, a friend of Taft identified the alleged killer at the party and said he was carrying a rifle, wore khaki shorts, calf-high socks and a fishing hat, she said. The suspect ran out of the bathroom after the shooting, she said.

Read more: https://thegrio.com/2018/07/24/family-calls-mans-murder-at-family-reunion-a-hate-crime/

[heaven05]

1. sad, sad, sad

what this country has become...may his spirit fly free forever, in peace.. I cry over the waste of his human life and potential.

[irisblue]

2. Local paper as well

https://www.presstelegram.com/2018/07/23/pan-american-park-shooting-victim-idd-as-long-beach-man/.

Snip..."A
man shot to death in a restroom in Pan American Park in Long Beach over the weekend has been identified by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office as Fredrick Renay Taft, 57.

Taft, a Long Beach resident, was pronounced dead at the park in the 5100 block of Centralia Street at 4:35 p.m. Saturday, said coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

Police were searching for a gunman who shot the victim in the upper torso and fled on foot. Authorities said Monday the suspect is in his 50s. They do not have a motive."


Not much more at article.

[Initech]

3. Another day in Trump's America.

And this one hits way too close to home. Damn. RIP.

[nini]

4. I know that park

I haven't gone near it for decades because there's always idiots around. So sad for that family. You can't even do normal things anymore with your family