Tongan man shot dead in US while returning from church

A Tongan man was shot and killed in the United States on March 21 while two other men were injured and taken to a hospital.

According to Kaniva News, Police have identified the deceased as 20-year-old William Fifita.

Fifita was returning from a church event in Torrance when another vehicle pulled up to his car and opened fire in what police describe as a “senseless murder.” Fifita was struck in the upper body and pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting took place after 2 am in the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue in Gardena, The location borders Hawthorne, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Family and friends are mourning the death of Fifita, who was a student and football player at Mt. San Antonio College.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and according to family members he had just returned from a two-year church mission in Guatemala.

“He’s a good boy,” his uncle said. “It was a shock for everybody.”