Los Medanos College student Lovelle Joshua Jr. was killed after being struck and pinned underneath a car early Saturday morning as he was walking home from work.
The driver, Gerald Massey, 28 of Antioch was driving down the 3900 block of Delta Fair Boulevard when he lost control of his vehicle at around 1:40 a.m., struck a tree, and pinned Joshua under his car. Joshua was extracted from underneath the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
Massey, who was arrested under the suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, was taken to the hospital immediately after authorities recovered him from the vehicle for unspecified injuries.
Students, faculty, and staff were shocked to hear about the death of Joshua.
“My initial reaction to hearing Lovell passed away was shock, sadness, and disbelief,” said Joshua’s friend Amber Woods. “I was shocked because I had just seen him the day before in the Office of Student Life.” Woods went on to say that Joshua was a person who was always smiling, joking, and enjoying time with friends on campus.
“He was very funny and could put anyone in a good mood because he was so positive. He had a really cool personality,” Woods said.
The Umoja Club extended their recent fundraiser by a day that was going to initially raise money for the club, and is donating the proceeds towards Joshua’s funeral.
Umoja Program Assistant Coordinator Jamila Stewart was also shocked to learn about Joshua.
“I thought it was a joke at first,” said Stewart. “I didn’t want to believe it for a long time. As the days passed, your heart just kind of sank. It’s heart breaking.”
Students faculty and staff will be able to pay respects at a candlelight vigil that will take place on Fri, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. on the 3800 block of Delta Fair Blvd in Antioch. Joshua’s funeral will be on Tues, Feb 12 at 11 a.m. at the McNary-Morgan-Grenne- Jackson Funeral Home on 3630 Telegraph Ave in Oakland.
