Dorian Franklin was a 34-year-old Black man from San Diego, California, who was a new father planning to get married and start a business. His mother, Veronica Mack, described him as "the nicest guy you would ever want to meet," adding that "he loved his family." His death left his parents devastated. "I’ll never get to see my son again," said his father, Vernon Franklin Jr. "That’s a hard thing for a father to swallow." His mother shared her profound grief, saying, "How could you live with yourself knowing that you took away somebody’s son, father, brother, uncle, cousin, godson."
On the afternoon of September 20, 2021, Dorian stopped by Mike’s Liquor Market in the Mountain View neighborhood to chat with friends. Shortly after 3:30 p.m., as he stood with a group in the parking lot, a white car drove by and an occupant opened fire. Dorian was struck by the gunfire and rushed by paramedics to a trauma center, where he was pronounced dead.
A second man, 26-year-old Veterial Webster, was also wounded in the shooting but survived after seeking treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at a hospital.
The San Diego Police Department investigated the shooting, which they confirmed was gang-related. Dorian’s family, however, believed he was not the intended target and had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Investigators noted that several people present at the scene scattered immediately after the shooting and publicly asked for them to come forward.
The investigation led to two arrests. On September 22, 2021, police arrested 25-year-old Elijah James Smith during a traffic stop in the City Heights area. A second suspect, 18-year-old Jamar Cook, was also taken into custody. Both men were charged with the murder of Dorian Franklin and the attempted murder of Veterial Webster. After initially pleading not guilty, Elijah James Smith entered into a plea agreement prior to trial and pleaded guilty.
