Father's emotional plea for help finding musician son's killer

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - The father of a Bay Area musician, who was killed trying to retrieve his stolen laptop, is making a plea to the public for help in finding his son’s killer.

Gene DePoris, of Florida, is in Oakland while authorities investigate his son’s death.

David DePoris, 40, of Oakland, was killed August 9 in the Temescal district. He was outside of a café when his laptop, filled with his music, was stolen. DePoris was dragged by the thief’s getaway car down a narrow, one-way street.

Gene said his son lived his life in a way that made him proud.

“He was practically singing since the day he was born,”Gene DePoris said. “He knew all his life he wanted to be a musician and he wanted to touch the world with his music.”

David indeed left an impact on the world through his original music. Friends said he was hoping to release an album soon.

The elder DePoris was on a trip in Sri Lanka when he learned David was killed in the robbery.

“He lived for his music and my son died for his music, trying to rescue it,” DePoris said. “You’re always told the worst possible thing that can happen to you is to have the death of a child. I’m here to tell you that it’s true."

DePoris has visited the memorials dedicated to his son in Oakland and met strangers who were David’s friends. He said he is learning more about his son through the eyes of others.

“It’s terribly sad, but it’s terribly, terribly touching and it’s touching because a community I never knew existed, they’re there supporting my son,” he said.

DePoris’ visit to Oakland is about finding his son’s killer. He does not want vengeance, but rather justice.

“A bad person killed a human being and killed a person that didn’t have to die,” he added. “I don’t care who did it. I don’t care what their background is, what their age is, somebody did something very, very bad. My goal is that person gets found.”

For now, DePoris finds solace in his son’s music and in knowing David had a life well lived.

The family is raising money on a GoFundMe page to create a living anthology of Dave’s work. Any money left over will fund early childhood education. More information can be found here: 

Crimestoppers is offering a $15,000 reward to anyone with information that can lead to an arrest in the case, according to DePoris. If you have any information, you’re urged to call Oakland Police Department’s Homicide Unit.