All photos courtesy of the Manu family

Faapuna “Mac” Manu was a young man deeply loved by his family, neighbors and everyone who knew him.

Well-known and respected, Manu was described by everyone from his mother to pastor as someone who may have looked hard on the outside but was truly a big-hearted, caring father, husband and parishioner. The 27-year-old North Long Beach native would show up wherever he was needed, be it a church barbeque or neighborhood get-together. Oftentimes, he would be sporting blue-and-orange swag to show-off his die-hard love for the Denver Broncos.

Manu would also bring his tow truck–his livelihood–happily letting his own three children, eight year-old Maac, seven year-old Taliyah, and one year-old Maliyah, as well as those in the community play with the truck’s gadgets, lights and buttons. And he would never let the moment escape when he could hug and kiss the mother of his children, his fiance Tarina Guess.

“I’ve met many men in my life but I’d never met a better father than Mac, a better community member and worker,” said Pastor Janet Carter. “His children and fiance and his community were his center. I wouldn’t even have to ask him to do anything. He would just simply show up.”

This deep show of love for Manu has been outpouring since December 9 of last year, when he was killed by an alleged drunk driver while fixing a couple’s flat tire on the shoulder of the I-405 in Long Beach. 

The family’s devastation over the last seven months has only been compounded by what they see as a lack of responsibility taken by the man who ran over Manu, a 26 year-old ambulance driver who is currently out on bail. 

Raymond L. Burley, III, who was driving home from an Ambuserve holiday work party at the time of the accident, took two breathalyzer tests the night Manu died. The L.A. District Attorney’s Office said the tests revealed two readings: .11 and .12. A later blood test confirmed a .11 BAC level at the time of his arrest.

But after posting a bail of $100,000 only four hours after booking, Burley has legally roamed free. He is set to appear at his second preliminary hearing Wednesday and pled not guilty at his first hearing on May 30.

“He has no clue what he’s done,” said Rose Manu, Mac’s mother, at a meeting in which nearly every immediate family member was present. Sporting a shirt with a picture of her son, she is the voice of the family’s pain and hope as Tarina often chooses silence while she holds Maliyah.

“Three kids–three,” Rose said while she looked at Maac, who uncannily looks like a miniaturized version of his father. “And all the people who are still coming up to me–people some of us never knew. Mac just did something for ’em, y’know? He helped someone with their car even when he was off work. Or he helped barbecue for someone’s church function. So many people he touched.”

His funeral was proof of that touch. Tow truck drivers from across the Southland drove in a procession, flashing lights on, down the 405 before his funeral, which was properly decked out in orange and blue. People still fill his Facebook with notes and memories, such as a recent post which read, “I can see Mac rollin’ through heaven in this,” attached with a picture of a classic Oldsmobile Cutlass completely adorned in Bronco getup.

“My hope?” Rose asked. “Anything less than ten years would be a slap to her face”–she gestures towards Tarina–“but I want worse. I want worse.”

When asked what her hopes are with the upcoming trial, Tarina looked up calmly and stoically: “I don’t have any words.”

The many questions–why an ambulance company would have an open-bar holiday party, why Burley failed to have a designated driver or call a taxi, why none of his fellow ambulance drivers insisted he not drive–has led the family to seek litigation in civil court, with a wrongful death suit filed against Burley, his family and Ambuserve.

“Mr. Burley and Ambuserve bear fault,” said Thomas Mortimer, representing Manu’s family in litigation. “What they did was truly unconscionable and reckless. By throwing their Christmas party with an open bar and not supervising their employees, allowing a guy to get so intoxicated that he gets into a car and really destroyed a family and–and himself. He’s completely destroyed himself.”

That circular destruction was echoed by Assistant District Attorney Emily Baker, who is overseeing the criminal case for Los Angeles County.

“Deaths involving intoxicated driving are tragic all around–for both the victim and the driver,” said Baker.

That death, which is generically charged as gross vehicular manslaughter, could very well cost Burley even more if the death is a considered a Watson death. The People v. Watson is a 1956 case that set precedent on having notice of the dangers of drunk driving, i.e. one can be charged with second degree murder if it can be proven that you had malice aforethought that driving under the influence was indeed dangerous to human life.

“As with all alcohol-related incidents, we try to find the right thing to do in every case we file,” Baker said. “Is an ambulance driver on prior notice? That questions hasn’t been answered yet.”

As the fate of Burley, both criminally and civilly, awaits to be decided, if there is one thing that isn’t unquestionable, it is the love that has been continually shown from the community who feels it has lost an essential part of its spirit.

“I’ve been in this type of situation where I’ve seen a lot of families go through this unfortunately, who have been the victims of negligence or unconscionable conduct,” said Mortimer. “Seeing the outpour of love and support for Mac’s family is just incredible. There must’ve been 30-something people at the May 30 hearing… They took over the whole courtroom.”

As the family prepares for its second candlelight vigil in honor of Mac, his last words on Facebook couldn’t ring more true for them as they gather together: “Come and show some support as we represent for Long Beach and this West Coast movement!”

Burley could not be reached for this story.

A candlelight vigil for Faapuna “Mac” Manu will be held tonight at 6PM at the 405 Freeway overpass on Walnut Ave. at Spring St.. The criminal preliminary hearing setting for Raymond Burley, III will occur tomorrow at the Long Beach Superior Court, located at 415 W. Ocean. It will be held in Department L from 8:30AM to 9AM.

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