Obed Nathan Orsonio, 24, was fatally shot just after midnight on September 1, 2018, near a home on West Street in Salinas, California. Orsonio, a security guard who had recently enrolled in classes at Hartnell College and aspired to a music career, was well known in his community. The shooting occurred during a violent Labor Day weekend that included multiple homicides.

Police identified 21-year-old Abran Rubio as the suspect. Rubio had been a close friend of Orsonio’s since middle school and had lived with Orsonio’s family for a year beginning in 2015. According to reports, Orsonio used his final words to identify the person who shot him; officers later found Rubio hiding near the scene and took him into custody. The motive for the killing remained unclear, leaving family and friends seeking answers.

Obed’s family and community mourned publicly, with messages written in chalk near the scene and a GoFundMe page set up to help cover funeral expenses. Anyone who knew Obed or has information about the shooting is asked to come forward.