Somber Vigil Held For Honors Student Fatally Shot By Long Beach Police
WOODLAND HILLS (CBSLA.com) — A somber vigil was held in Woodland Hills on Wednesday evening for an honors student fatally shot last week by Long Beach police.
Feras Morad, a 2013 graduate of El Camino Real Charter School and a nationally ranked debater, was shot by police May 27.
Authorities said Morad jumped out a two-story window in the 4600 block of 15th Street around 7:30 p.m. Police said he was combative, acting aggressively and apparently intoxicated. Police said they used less-than-lethal force to subdue Morad, including a stun gun, but that the officer fired his weapon after Morad threatened to attack him.
On Wednesday evening, KCAL9's Rachel Kim spoke to friends who said they're still having trouble coming to grips with the fact he is gone.
"I loved you five years ago, I love you now, and I will always love you," said one friend.
In front of a crowd of hundreds, friends and family shared memories of 20-year-old Morad, a student at Moorpark College.
"I don't know how this can happen someone like him. He always defended me, he was handsome, he was a genius," said his sister Ghada Morad.
Family members said Morad was in Long Beach to study for a debate and had ingested mushrooms.
On Wednesday, Long Beach police also posted the 911 call they received that said Morad was making neighbors anxious with his behavior.
Dispatcher: "What's the emergency there?"
Caller: "I think one of our neighbors might be intoxicated. ... He's kind of irate there walking around, some friends are trying to get him back. He fell out of a second-story window or jumped out, I don't really know. But he's walking around but he's very intoxicated and bloody."
The caller ended by saying, "I think he is a little violent."
"At the end of the day, he was killed, he was unarmed, he was disoriented, he was injured, so it shouldn't matter," said Feras' cousin Kareem Morad.
"I want to get justice for my brother. I don't want this to happen to anyone else," said Feras' sister Ghada.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, grief stricken family members say they are comforted by this outpouring of support.
"He meant a lot to a lot of people, a lot of people loved him. He loved a lot of people. It's mind-blowing," said Kareem.
A protest march is set to take place at 4 p.m. Thursday in Long Beach. Demonstrators plan to march from Lincoln Park to Long Beach police headquarters.
To listen to the entire 911 call, click here.
