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Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives were still investigating the death of Nabil Tawab, 37, of Porter Ranch, who was shot to death on Dec. 22 just outside the Westridge Executive Plaza office complex at 26650 The Old Road.
“The past week or so, the pain has been harder and harder,” said Alexander Soliman, who was friends with Tawab for more than 20 years. “The way he got brutally shot around Christmas time is just awful. He didn’t deserve to go that way.”
Tawab, the owner of Credit Expert Group, was at a holiday party for his employees before walking to the parking lot, where he was shot about 6:40 p.m.
“We don’t know if it was a random street robbery, business-related or family-related,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Coleman of the Homicide Bureau. “It’s more difficult in that there were obviously no witnesses that we know of and no surveillance cameras in the area.”
Traffic was also light at the time of the shooting, Coleman added.
Tawab’s loved ones said Tuesday they are still shocked by the shooting.
Tawab owned his business for about seven years and had recently moved into the building. Soliman described his friend as easy-going, but also a dedicated worker.
“He’s really fun to go out with, but every (bit of) spare time, his brain is always working,” said Soliman, who added that Tawab was working on opening a second office in Los Angeles and was writing a book.
Soliman said Tawab was in the process of finalizing a difficult divorce and had plans to re-marry this year. He was the father of two children and would have become a stepfather to others, he added.
Tawab was buried on Christmas Day in Palmdale. A memorial service open to friends is still being planned, Soliman said.
Meanwhile, residents who live in the area are still startled, but not concerned for their own safety.
“It’s shocking. This is a safe neighborhood,” said Heather Dispenza, 35, who lives about a block from the site of the shooting. “(But) it doesn’t make me feel less safe. You can’t always control what happens (and) we have a good sheriff’s department.”
