Guy Alford III, a former Long Beach City College football player was gunned down in Long Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Photo courtesy Darnell Lacy.

The man shot to death outside a North Long Beach Jack in the Box last night was a former football player at Long Beach City College, according to his coach.

Guy Alford III, 20, was a safety for the LBCC Vikings last year where he was a beloved leader on the team, according to defensive back coach Darnell Lacy.

“He was an amazing young man. Everyone loved Guy. Very respectful and hard working,” Lacy said. “Has a great family. He is truly gonna be missed.”

Guy Alford Jr. holds a photo of his son Guy Alford III, 20, In Long Beach September 26, 2018. Alford came out to see where his son was killed the night before at a drive-thru of a fast food restaurant on the 5100 block of Atlantic Avenue. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.

Police said Alford was shot shortly before 12:15 a.m. Wednesday morning near 52nd Street and Atlantic Avenue. When officers got to the scene, they found him in a car at the Jack in the Box’s parking lot with gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Neighbor Adriana Rivas said she was told by a woman who cleans the parking lot that the car was in the 24-hour drive-thru when the driver was shot and pulled around into the parking lot where he died.

Alford’s father came to the parking lot Wednesday morning to see the last place his son was alive. He said Alford was on a mission to finish his associate’s degree at LBCC and then get a nursing degree.

“I just really wanted him to get an education,” the father said while holding a picture of Alford.

Lacy said he had a special bond with Alford and is devastated by his death.

“I was his position coach and he lived around the corner from me,” Lacy said. “I would train him in our down time. He would work out with my 9-year-old son.” Alford lived in Hawthorne, police said.

Guy Alford Jr. grieves for his son Guy Alford III, 20, as Pastor Eddie Jones comforts him In Long Beach September 26, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.

Just last week, Alford came by to see Lacy at campus. Alford said he was still working hard and planned to transfer to a four-year school and continue playing football next spring, according to Lacy.

“Tired of the cowards! This dude didn’t deserve this!” Lacy said in a Tweet Wednesday morning.

Homicide detectives were investigating the incident. A description of a suspect or details on any possible motive weren’t immediately available.

Police asked anyone with information to call detectives Shea Robertson and Oscar Valenzuela at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

A community member comforts Guy Alford Jr. as he looks at a photo of his son, Guy Alford III, 20, In Long Beach September 26, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.
Guy Alford Jr. grieves for his son, Guy Alford III, 20, In Long Beach September 26, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.
Community members gather around Guy Alford Jr. to pray as he holds a photo of his son, Guy Alford III, 20, in Long Beach September 26, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.
Guy Alford Jr. holds a photo of his son, Guy Alford III, 20, In Long Beach September 26, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.
Guy Alford holds a photo of his son, Guy Alford III, 20, as Pastor Eddie Jones joins him In Long Beach September 26, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.

Jeremiah Dobruck is executive editor of the Long Beach Post where he oversees all day-to-day newsroom operations. In his time working as a journalist in Long Beach, he’s won numerous awards for his investigative reporting and editing. Before coming to the Post in 2018, he wrote for publications including the Press-Telegram, Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times. Reach him at [email protected] or @jeremiahdobruck on Twitter.