William Fifita, a 20-year-old football player from Mt. San Antonio College, tragically lost his life in a car-to-car shooting on March 20, 2016. The incident occurred around 2:15 a.m. at the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard, on the border of Gardena and Hawthorne, California. Fifita, along with three other individuals, was returning from a church event in Torrance when their vehicle was targeted.
As they waited at a red light, a dark-colored sedan pulled alongside them, and at least one occupant opened fire. Fifita was struck in the upper body and pronounced dead at the scene. Two male passengers also sustained gunshot wounds, while a female passenger remained unharmed.
The investigation into Fifita's death revealed that the shooting might have been racially motivated, although this theory has not been confirmed. The suspects fled the scene in their vehicle, heading east on Rosecrans Avenue, and have yet to be identified. Surveillance footage from the area was reviewed by investigators, but no clear description of the suspects was available. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau, in collaboration with the Hawthorne Police Department, has been leading the investigation. Despite their efforts, no arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved.
Fifita's death has had a profound impact on his family, friends, and the community. He was remembered as a dedicated athlete and a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His family, including his father, a San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy, has been vocal in seeking justice for William. The lack of progress in the investigation has been a source of frustration and sorrow for those who knew him. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, hoping that new leads might eventually bring the perpetrators to justice.
