Samoan community mentor killed in mass shooting near UC Berkeley

Berkeley, CALIFORNIA — The young man killed in last weekend's mass shooting in Berkeley has been identified as 29-year-old Isamaeli Mataafa, who went by Eli.

Family and friends say Mataafa was studying ministry at the Pacific School of Religion, involved in the master of divinity program. His death is hitting the Bay Area Samoan community hard.

"Eli Mataafa was a mentor in the Samoan community in San Lorenzo. My thoughts are with the family that has been ripped apart by this senseless act of violence," said Rigel Robinson who is Berkeley District 7 councilmember.

Eli was one of four people shot after a fight broke out near the UC Berkeley campus. He was the only person killed. Someone who was very active at his church in San Lorenzo, according to friends who spoke with ABC7 News.

Read more at ABC7 News