Giovanni Edward Lyiscott, 18

Giovanni Lyiscott, an 18-year-old black man, died Saturday, Feb. 20, after he was shot in the 17400 block of Prondall Court in Carson, according to authorities.

His father, Anderson Edward Lyiscott, 53, was charged with one count of murder in the case, with the special allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a handgun that caused great bodily injury and death, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. 

Giovanni had recently resumed living at home with his parents and his sibling, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Coleman. 

The evening he was shot, Giovanni was home alone with his girlfriend and his father, Coleman said. Around 6:15 p.m., Giovanni got into an argument with his father that resulted in the son going upstairs to his bedroom and slamming and locking the door, Coleman said.

The father then went up to the room with a gun and shot at the door handle, according to the district attorney’s news release.

“The son was making a lot of noise, yelling, and the father was going to tell him to leave,” Coleman said. “I think the father took the gun with him to scare the kid.”

Anderson Lyiscott entered the bedroom and got into a physical fight with his son while still holding the gun, according to prosecutors. During the struggle, the gun went off, and Giovanni was shot in the chest, according to the release.

Giovanni was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Anderson Lyiscott was arrested that evening on suspicion of murder. He pleaded not guilty Feb. 23. His next court date is March 15 in Department 12 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Compton Branch, to schedule a preliminary hearing. He is being held in jail in lieu of $3-million bail. 

Family members declined to comment on Tuesday. However, the Daily Breeze newspaper in Torrance quoted Giovanni’s brother, Taron Lyiscott, as saying their father would never have intentionally hurt his son. 

“Giovanni was a good guy and my dad was a good guy,” Taron was quoted as saying. “… I know my dad, and my dad worshiped Giovanni. My dad would never harm anyone on purpose.” 

According to the Daily Breeze, Anderson Lyiscott was a facilities supervisor at Honda R&D Americas in Torrance until he left his job in December.

Giovanni's friends built a makeshift memorial of candles and messages at the house, the newspaper reported, and used the hashtag #LongLiveGio to leave tributes on Twitter.

“It was a two-parent household in a nice home, nicely kept, and it’s just a tragedy,” Coleman said, “because they’ve lost a son, and they’ve lost their father and husband too.”

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.