David Lawler, 21, of San Bernardino was one of three men shot outside the Ahalena Hookah Lounge in San Bernardino during the early morning of May 16, 2014. A crowd of about 60 people had been at the 24-hour lounge; the San Bernardino Police Department responded around 4 a.m. and found Kavin Johnson, 26, dead at the scene and David Lawler and his half-brother Terry Freeman, 20, suffering gunshot wounds. Lawler and Freeman were taken to a hospital and later died.

Investigators described an altercation in the parking lot in which words reportedly were exchanged mentioning gang affiliations, and they characterized the shooting as likely gang-related. Travon Stokes, 32, of Moreno Valley, was arrested that day on suspicion of the triple homicide; police said the arrest was based on witness statements and evidence from the scene. A vigil was held at the lounge for the three victims.