Family Pleads for Public's Help in Irvine Double Slaying

The assistant coach for the CSU Fullerton women's basketball team and her fiancé were killed over the weekend.

Family and friends of a couple shot to death in their car in an Irvine parking complex over the weekend pleaded for the public’s help Tuesday to catch whoever is responsible for the slayings.

"The Lawrence family is shocked and saddened by the senseless loss of Keith and his fiancée Monica," said family friend Melinda Dorsey. "If you saw anything, no matter how big or small, please contact the Irvine police department."

Detectives said hours before the shooting, the pair was at a Super Bowl party in Winnetka. When the game ended, they left to make the 65-mile trip back to their home in Irvine.

"Keith… was just fun, very bright," said Megan Wood, the victim’s cousin. "He wouldn’t hurt a fly."

Monica Quan, 28, and her fiancé, Keith Lawrence, 27, were fatally shot Sunday while sitting in their car on the top level of a parking structure in the 2100 block of Scholarship Drive, according to Irvine police.

An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday, officials said.

Quan worked for two years as assistant basketball coach at Cal State Fullerton, and had recently gotten engaged to Lawrence.

A former teammate expressed her condolences via Twitter after learning of the homicide.

"I’m so sad to lose an old friend & teammate," Heather Hughes wrote.

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A moment of silence will be observed for Quan at 3 p.m. Saturday when Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball is set to take on UC Riverside, said Jason Spencer, sports media manager for CSU Fullerton.

Members of the basketball team working with Quan were not available for comment Tuesday, Spencer said.

Police have not yet determined a motive for the slayings. The couple’s apartment building is "fairly new," and equipped with security, said Lt. Julia Engen, spokeswoman for the Irvine Police Department.

"The building where they were discovered has controlled access [and] locked gates," she said.

Anyone with information can call Irvine Police at 949-724-7192.

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