Slain Family Remembered By Garden Grove Muslim Community

GARDEN GROVE, CA — A family of three are remembered by the Garden Grove Muslim community this week after being killed by a drunk driver on Halloween night.

Father and husband Yousef "Joseph" Awaida died at the scene from injuries sustained when the family was struck on a Long Beach sidewalk by an alleged drunken driver on Halloween night. The couple's 3-year-old son, Omar Awaida, died Saturday, and mother Raihan Dakhil, 32, has also died, according to media reports.

"Joseph and his family are Muslim, and according to custom, burials are usually conducted within 24 hours of passing," a family spokesperson explained on the GoFundMe fundraiser page. In just a few days, the campaign has already raised over$188,000 by 3,200 sponsors, according to the site.

Information about the services was released on the GoFundMe page. Funeral services were planned for the father and son on Monday at 1 p.m. Funeral service information for the mother were yet to be released as of this report.

The family will be receiving condolences for three days, each day from 6-9 p.m.

• Nov 4th: Islamic Society of Orange County (https://goo.gl/maps/PS5BCEiLXhr3kgcz9)
• Nov 5th: Ansar Mosque (https://tinyurl.com/y4d6nyjj)
• Nov 6th: Long Beach Islamic Center (https://goo.gl/maps/BWjw4QuwoNbtzVSVA)

Due to the unexpected generosity this campaign received, they intend to use any excess funds towards a lasting legacy project (Sadaqa Jariya), to be determined in the near future, organizers said.

On Halloween night, the family of three was found "lying on the ground, in the area of Country Club Drive and Los Cerritos Park Place," the Long Beach Police Department reported.

Investigators determined that 20-year-old Carlo Adrian Navarro of Long Beach was at the wheel of a 2002 Toyota Sequoia headed southbound on Country Club Drive. He failed to make a turn, and instead, drove onto the sidewalk and hit the family as they walked from Los Cerritos Park Place, police said.

Navarro was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter. He was jailed on $100,000 bail. He posted bond and was released Friday, according to the Sheriff's Inmate Information Center.

The Awaida family is part of the Garden Grove Muslim community. They were the owners of Joe's Auto Center in Long Beach.

A public candlelight vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Ave. in Long Beach.

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