Long Beach grandfather shot to death in park bathroom

Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Long Beach grandfather shot to death in park bathroom
Frederick Taft's family says a white suspect shot the 57-year-old African-American man at point-blank range at Pan American Park on Saturday afternoon.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The family of a Long Beach grandfather shot to death in a park bathroom over the weekend believes the crime was racially motivated.



Frederick Taft's family says a white suspect shot the 57-year-old African-American man at point-blank range at Pan American Park on Saturday afternoon.



"It's just a random act of violence," Taft's sister Cheryl Malonson said. "You go to the bathroom during midday and someone shoots you for no reason?"



Police have yet to release a motive, although a racial slur was carved into a nearby park bench.



Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact detectives at 562-570-7244.

Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.