A man was found beaten to death early Monday morning at Buddy Todd Park in Oceanside, Oceanside Police said.
Officers responded to a report of a person down at approximately 5:44 a.m. Monday at the 2800 block of Mesa Drive. That person was later identified as 24-year-old Oceanside resident Moustafa Gordon.
Gordon was found dead at the northeastern edge of the park, the result of blunt force trauma. The trauma was mainly to the face, said Oceanside Police Lieutenant Cosby, and the body appeared to be there for several hours.
The family of the victim spoke to Orbary Walker, the victim's brother-in-law, said he was distraught.
"He was such a good guy, military, veteran, mechanic in the military, a really nice guy always helping people," Walker said of Gordon.
Investigators with the Oceanside Police Department said they believe Gordon knew the man that killed him.
"This is an attack of great severity on a person," Cosby said at a press conference about the death. "Regardless of what your relationship to this person might have been or is, this is uncalled for."
One resident found the body while walking his dog in the park Monday morning.
"I couldn't see him breathing at all, he wasn't breathing, and I shine the light in his face and all I could see was blood, all over the face," said Bill Stone.
Local
Officers cornered off the park early Monday in their search for a suspect, Cosby said. Officers said a blue GMC pickup found by the body belonged to the victim.
No weapons have been found at the scene. Cosby said he believes the attack is singular and that residents should not be worried for their safety.
Officers will be talking to nearby neighbors to see if they heard anything or have surveillance footage from overnight.
Police currently do not have any information on a potential suspect and are asking anyone with information related to this incident to call the Oceanside Police Department at (760) 435-4911.
The investigation is ongoing.
