Orange County Man Shot, Killed While Camping With Daughters

IRVINE, CA — An Irvine man was killed while tent camping with his two young daughters in Malibu Canyon, authorities said. Tristan Beaudette, 35, of Irvine, was fatally shot inside a tent in the popular campground at Malibu Creek State Park. He was on a camping trip with his daughters, ages 2 and 4, who were unharmed. Their mother was reportedly studying for an exam and did not make the trip.

"Words cannot express the absolute devastation and sorrow we feel from the loss of someone so dear to our family," friends of Beaudette said on the GoFundMe page established for his family.

Detectives have not revealed the exact time of the shooting, but were summoned to the campground at 4:44 a.m. Friday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Beaudette's killer remains at large, and a motive for the shooting is unknown.

Sheriff's homicide detectives said Monday they were aware of the reports of at least two cars getting shot at in the same area, one of which involved a woman who posted video of a bullet hole in her vehicle along with photo of a shotgun slug that she said pierced the tailgate as she slept inside.

On Sunday, Los Angeles television stations KTLA5 and ABC7 reported that a Simi Valley woman and her boyfriend had been sleeping in their car's cargo area last January when it was hit by a large shotgun slug.
Meliss Tatangelo says they were awakened by a "large thump" about 5 a.m., but went back to sleep. Later that morning, they discovered a bullet hole in the back hatch area, and a large shotgun slug rolling around inside the cargo area.

Tatangelo said in a Facebook posting that she drove back to the park, called rangers, and had them examine the bullet hole and slug. She said the rangers told her that the slug had been fired at close range into the car.

In a statement released late Monday morning, Deputy Joana Warren said "homicide detectives are aware there have been other shootings near the location in the past. However, there is no evidence that suggests this incident is related to any prior shootings near the location. The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information that will be released."

On May 16, the lifeless body of a man was found in a ditch, across the road from the Malibu Creek. The coroner's office reported that Francisco Reynaldo Cruz, 52, of Los Angeles, had been killed by "sharp force injuries" to the chest and neck, as well as from a "blunt force injury to the head."

Sheriff's deputies told Malibu radio station KBUU last week that Cruz had been killed somewhere else, and dumped in the isolated canyon.
After Beaudette's was discovered shot, the campground was closed as a precaution, but trails in the area, including the paths to the "M*A*S*H" filming site, remained open.

Deputies asked anyone with information on the crime to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

"Not a second goes by that we aren’t grappling with the senselessness of this crime," friends of the family stated on the Gofundme page established for the family.

The fundraiser has gathered almost $100,000 as of this report.

GoFundMe Photo