Friends, family, and community members gather for a vigil for Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.

One day after Guy Alford III was shot and killed in the parking lot of a North Long Beach Jack in the Box, his family and friends gathered to ask the public for information that would lead to his killer.

“If anybody knows anything, please say something,” April Roby, Alford’s mother, said.

Alongside her, Alford’s little brother Amari clutched a photo of his big brother, tears running down his face.

“I loved my brother a lot,” Amari, 10, said in between sobs. “He feeds me, he takes me places, he took me to school.”

That was all he could get out before the sobs overtook him.

Alford, 20, was shot to death in a car near 52nd Street and Atlantic Avenue shortly before 12:15 a.m. Wednesday. Police haven’t been able to provide any details about a possible motive or a suspect.

Alford was a beloved football player for the Long Beach City College Vikings last year, his coach told the Post on Wednesday.

“Someone took a real champion from me,” Alford’s father said. “I just don’t want another parent to feel the way I feel.”

For Roby, losing her son—like most parents—is something she never thought she would go through, despite years of volunteering with women whose kids have been murdered.

“She would always help families like us, now she’s one of us,” said LaWanda Hawkins, who has known Roby for about 10 years. “She’s part of a lifetime club that no one wants to have to be in.”

Hawkins said that April and her sister Sharon Roby have volunteered for years with Justice for Murdered Children through Sharon’s nonprofit, Phenomenal Angels, which helps teach young girls life skills.

The two groups regularly help each other out, she said, and April was always helping and giving support to mothers whose children have been killed.

“Ain’t no pain like that,” Hawkins said. Her only son was killed in San Pedro.

Alford’s father had a message for other parents: “Hold on to your kids. Don’t let them leave the house mad. Lord knows it can happen to anybody.”

His son was a good kid, he said, he was smart and nice—just last week he made dinner for his whole family.

Alford’s aunt, Sharon Roby, echoed the sentiment later, adding that he was funny and a good big brother.

“He worked at Chuck-E-Cheese, you know you gotta be a special kind of person to be able to work at Chuck-E-Cheese,” Sharon said.

A donation fundraiser has been set up for the family on GoFundMe.

Bre Alford sheds tears during a vigil for her cousin Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
April Roby is comforted as a pastor talks while at a vigil for her son Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Amari Alford, 10, hugs his father during a vigil for his older brother Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Gut Alford Jr. holds his son Shaheim, 13, as his mother April Roby talks during a vigil for her son Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Amari Alford, 10, holds a photo of his older brother Guy Alford III, 20, during a vigil who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Yolanda Roby comforts her two nephews Amari, 10, and Shaheim, 13, during a vigil their older brother Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Guy Alford, Jr. holds his two sons Shaheim, 13 and Amari, 10 close as his niece Bre Alford stands next to him during a vigil for Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Shaheim Alford, 13, holds his older brother picture, Guy Alford III, 20, during a vigil for him who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Shaheim Alford, 13, holds his older brother picture, Guy Alford III, 20, during a vigil for him who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Friends, family, and community members gather for a vigil for Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Yolanda Roby is comforted during a vigil for her nephew Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant In Long Beach September 27, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova

Valerie Osier is the Social Media & Newsletter Manager for the Long Beach Post. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ValerieOsier