'Too good of a kid': Actor among 3 killed in shooting, crash starred in film about gun violence

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Herman Lofton said the last time he talked to his son, Xavier, they had an in-depth conversation that lasted four hours.

"Just talking about different things. Real estate, his daughter's birthday, his job," Herman said.

One day later, 29-year-old Xavier was one of three people killed in a shooting and crash in Austin. Police initially said two people died in the incident.

"Never in a million years I would have thought that I would be burying my son," Herman said.

It happened on Friday night. Chicago police said two people were driving on South Cicero Avenue when someone in a beige SUV began firing in the direction of another car at about 11:17 p.m.

SEE MORE: Chicago shooting: 2 killed, 1 critically injured in Austin shooting, crash, police say

Xavier was struck multiple times and later died at Mt. Sinai Hospital, police said. A 29-year-old woman in the car was also struck and rushed to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

Xavier got into acting at the encouragement of his friend, Suless Burton, who made a film about gun violence called "When Does it Stop?" He had a starring role. In the film, Xavier's character is shot and killed.

"All we wanted to do was to put some type of impact on the younger generation to put the guns down, and then this happens," Burton said.

Lorenzo EcFord, father of 3, was also killed in a shooting in Chicago's Austin neighborhoo while he was delivering food.

Police said 37-year-old Lorenzo EcFord, in another car, was also fatally shot.

EcFord was 6-foot-9, but was even more of a giant to his three children.

"All I keep doing is thinking about them grand babies. They lost their father, someone they really, really loved," said Cassandra Marsh, EcFord's mother.

EcFord, a former college basketball player, was hit in the back by a stray bullet while delivering food. The bullet grazed his girlfriend and barely missed his 10-year-old daughter and one of his sons.

"She kept saying, 'My daddy hurt real bad. There's a lot of blood in his hand,'" Marsh said. "She said he told his kids he loved them and everything... Then he slumped over."

Marsh said her son's final words were "I love you."

Also killed was 50-year-old pedestrian Willie Williams, who was struck by EcFord's vehicle.

Xavier's father said he can't understand why this happened.

"He was just too good of a kid. He stayed busy, was well-mannered, respectful to everybody. Not gang related. Not into the streets," Herman said.

Herman said Xavier was a doting father to his 7-year-old daughter and kept busy working at the post office or in real estate.

"She was crazy about her daddy. They were inseparable," Herman said.

It's unclear if Xavier was a target in the shooting or if he was caught in the crossfire. Chicago police said no one is in custody as detectives continue their investigation.

Xavier's loved ones said their hearts go out to the other victims' families, and that they hope whoever did this is brought to justice.

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