Rusty Seau

Rusty Seau. The boy with a million dollar smile and a heart of gold.
The mother of 16-year-old Rusty Seau, who was fatally shot Thursday evening and collapsed in the middle of the street, said Friday she does not know why her son was targeted.

"My son, he was a good kid. He was loved by many. I just want people to know the good in him," said Fia Seau, as she stood at the southwest corner of Vandegrift Boulevard and Gold Drive, near the spot where her son died soon after being shot at 5:18 p.m. Fia Seau gathered there with some of her daughters, her sister and other family and friends.

A table was set up with several framed photographs of Rusty Seau, several bouquets of flowers, candles, and a stuffed bear. At least a dozen balloons were tied to two nearby light poles.

As motorists passed by on Vandegrift Boulevard, some honked and flashed a peace sign. Some slowed and left flowers and offered condolences.

The mother said she believes that Oceanside police will find a motive and solve the case. She said she did not know whether the shooting had anything to do with the slaying of Rusty Seau's aunt, Pearl Seau, in 2002 or the gang violence that occurred in Oceanside last year. Rusty Seau, the family said, was not involved in gangs.

"I'm going to wait until police let me know why it happened. I'm not going to make any assumptions," Fia Seau said. "We don't know anything now. (Police are) just working on the case."

Police Sgt. Leonard Mata said Friday police are looking for information and are still trying to determine where the shooting happened. Witnesses told officers they heard gunfire in the area just west of the intersection just before Rusty Seau ran into the intersection and collapsed, he said.

He said investigators have not yet determined whether the shooting is gang-related but detectives are assisting in the investigation. Police patrols in the area have also increased, Mata said.

Fia Seau struggled to keep her composure as she spoke of her son's life.

"He's my oldest son, my first born," Seau said. "Rusty was born and raised on Arthur Street."

Her family all live in the area and Thursday before he was killed, she said he was following his usual routine of stopping in to visit with them all. She smiled and said he loved to eat and so he would move from home to home to see what was cooking at different houses.

Fia Seau said her son loved hip hop dancing and had even entered several dance competitions at school.

"He won every single one of them," she said with a big smile, adding they have lots of video of him dancing.

His aunt, Yolanda Aviu, said he also had many friends and was very athletic. He attended Ocean Shores High School this past year, but before that he had gone to El Camino High School and played on the football team.

Oceanside Unified School District spokeswoman Laura Chalkley said students made a large card for Rusty's family Friday.

"Whenever we have a tragedy, we always bring in extra counselors to talk to students if needed," she said. "(Students are) holding up as well as they can. Of course, it's a very trying and upsetting time for them and for the district. He was just a very good-hearted young man."

Chalkley said he was well-liked by all the teachers and administrators.

Seau's friends arrived at the intersection where he died soon after school was out with several banners to hang on a fence. The banners were signed by friends and family. Fia Seau explained that several said "Have a Safe Journey" in Samoan.

Fia Seau said her son had transferred to Ocean Shores to make up some school credits and next week he was going to move up to Temecula to live with his father and stepmother. He would have attended a different school during his senior year, she said.

The two boys listed here Christopher Fuimaono & Rusty Seau our cousins (my nephews) who have grown up together there entire young lives. Rusty was killed by another 16 year old kid so, its not just these two young lives gone it another one locked up in prison for the rest of his life. There needs to be a change. To many of our youth are being lost two the streets. Take a stand.

Christopher Fuimaono "Fui"

On August 2nd 2006. I lost my 19 year old nephew. He was the first born son, nephew, grandson in our family. Christopher was a star athlete one of those kids that was good at every sport he ever played. He was being scouted for college in his 10 grade year playing high school football for El Camino High School in Oceanside Ca. Christopher was an amazing dancer and we are so lucky to have some video's of him dancing. His story goes like this. September 11, 2005 Christopher was shot in a drive by shooting in the back of his head. He was shot because he had a red hat on. Christopher always wore many hats from his favorite sports teams. He never thought twice about the color of his hats because he was not affiliated with gangs. Christopher made it through this after being hospitalized and surgery. The shooter was never to be found. Christopher started having post traumatic stress he would look around at everyone and ask "do u think they could of shot me?" This in turn ended his football career. Christopher really started having a hard time in this life. He did not understand why this happened to him. He started experiencing bouts of schizophrenia and he wanted to help himself. On August 2nd 2006 Christopher left the house heading to the book store. His last words were " I am going to buy a book so I can help myself as well as others." He got in the car and drove away. Driving down Frazee road in Oceanside a undercover police car flashes his lights and sirens at him and attempts to pull him over. Christopher pressed the gas in attempt to get away swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle and hit a pole going 90 mile a hour and was ejected from the vehicle. He died instantly. Why did he run we have no idea and never will Christopher's vehicle was paid for had insurance he had never been in trouble with the police. The only thing we can think of is after he passed we found his poems and one of them talked about the night he was shot ironically he died a block away from where he was shot. He explained in the poem that all he saw the night he was shot were the flashing lights.



This is a poem I wrote:
You were born March 25, 1987, August 2, 2006 you went back to Heaven. Deep in our roots a branch has been taken, you left to shine your light on our life show us, there is more then meets the eye. Your vibration is strong, I feel you in my dreams the vision's alive inside of me you, left behind signs of eternity to show us life is eternal you didn't wants us hurting but, that part is maternal. You did everything you could to try to keep the pain minimal. We miss you Chris to go threw life without you in the flesh will be hard but, every time I look in the sky I see that same star shinning on me with the light so bright telling me not to give up the fight, spread some light to people who know no better, Help the flesh for were all eternal. The kids will grow older and soon pass you by, I think of that it makes me cry you, were the oldest but now it seems that your memories in the flesh will always remain nineteen.

Rest in peace my nephew C J FUI. There's a rainbow in the sky all the time...