Grief for slain co-worker

Family and friends continued to grieve this week for Israel Maciel, an employee of Jack’s Surfboards who was killed Aug. 2 in a drive-by shooting in Costa Mesa.

Maciel’s co-workers at Jack’s corporate offices in Huntington Beach carried on as usual in the days following the shooting, but their sorrow could be seen on every face.

“It’s hit us all pretty hard,” office manager Susie Asadourian said. “We all loved him.”

A 23-year-old Lakers fan who loved cars, Maciel died in an alley behind his apartment complex in the 1300 block of West Baker Street where he and four others were shot.

The four other victims, including 25-year-old Carlos Gutierrez of Huntington Beach, are still recuperating from injuries that are not considered life-threatening, Costa Mesa police officials said.

Neighbors held a carwash Saturday to raise funds for Maciel’s parents at the Ferrari and Maserati of Orange County dealer in Costa Mesa.

“In reality, you never think this could happen to you,” said Martin Rodriguez, Maciel’s stepfather who was with Maciel five minutes before the 8:19 p.m. shooting. Maciel’s mother, Agustina Mendoza said her faith was helping her through the pain.

“God loaned him to me for 23 years, and I am grateful for that,” she said.

The morning after the shooting, she visited the Jack’s offices where her son had worked for more than a year to personally deliver the news. However, by that time most of the staff already knew.

“Someone called here in the morning and asked me his last name,” warehouse employee Bernardo Mora said. “I knew it was him.”

Mora, a Huntington Beach resident, often joked about how he and Maciel spent more time together at work than with their own girlfriends. Off the clock, the two could often be spotted behind the warehouse shooting hoops.

“Whenever I needed something, he was there for me,” Mora said. “Inside of work or out, he was always there for you.”

At work, Maciel displayed a magnetic personality.

“He was always singing, always dancing, making everybody laugh,” Mora said.

Police are continuing the search for a man in his 20s seen fleeing in a silver Chevrolet Impala. He was light-skinned, had a shaved head, a mustache and a goatee beard.

— Independent staff

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