Justin Vaesna Uy, 18

Justin Vaesna Uy, an 18-year-old Asian man, died Wednesday, April 20, after he was shot at the corner of East 228th Street and Dolores Street in Carson, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Uy, a star volleyball player about to graduate from Carson High School, left his house on April 12 to meet a friend near his home, which in front of Dolores Street Elementary School, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza. 

When the friend arrived about 12:20 a.m., he found Uy lying on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds.

Uy was taken to a hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead eight days later at 10:45 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

No witnesses have come forward, Mendoza said, and investigators have no information about the shooting or the motive. 

Uy "had no gang affiliation, no criminal history of any kind. We don’t believe he was up to anything bad…. Everything’s showing that he was a productive kid in high school who was going out to meet his friend and he got shot,” Mendoza said. “Unfortunately, it’s a common theme.”

The Daily Breeze reported that Uy had been on life support, with no brain activity, since the shooting. A fundraising account has been set up to help the family cover his substantial medical expenses.

“Justin is a stellar student in the Academies of Education and Empowerment at Carson High Complex, a highly regarded libero on the varsity volleyball team (considered one of the top players in the City), well-loved among his peers, and has always been very involved with school and the community,” his sister, Emily Uy, wrote on the fundraising page.

“Justin celebrated his 18th birthday with his family and volleyball brothers just four days before the incident. He was set to graduate from high school this summer, and was planning to attend college in the fall.”

The Carson City Council approved a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting on April 19. The violence “could happen to any of us,” The Daily Breeze quoted Councilwoman Lula Davis-Holmes as saying.

“Words cannot express how I feel right now, realizing that our young people have to go through something like this," Davis-Holmes said. "I want to challenge all those cowards that are out there to get control of yourselves. If you want to shoot somebody, go and sign up and go to Afghanistan. Go over there. But leave our babies alone.”

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

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.