Matthew Beck, a 36-year-old man described by his family as the person who held them all together, was killed in an argument with a neighbor on August 26, 2024. According to his niece, Beck was the father of three boys and was a man who "would give you his shirt off his back to make sure everyone around him was okay." The shooting happened around 3:25 p.m.
in Hayward, California, at an apartment complex on the 22000 block of Santa Clara Street where both Beck and the shooter lived.
The conflict began after Beck’s girlfriend told him she was going to the apartment of their neighbor, Shawn Moayer, to take a shower. An argument ensued, during which Beck, who was armed with a knife, confronted Moayer. In response, Moayer went into his residence, retrieved a firearm, and shot Beck. When Hayward Police Department officers arrived, they found Beck suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives quickly identified Moayer, then 34, as the suspect. After the shooting, Moayer fled the area and remained at large for over a week. Investigators determined that his adoptive father, 59-year-old Houman Moayer, had knowingly concealed his son to help him evade capture. On September 4, 2024, police located and arrested Shawn Moayer at a residence in Union City. His father was arrested the same day and charged with being an accessory after the fact. At the time, Police Chief Bryan Matthews stated, “Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Mr. Beck as they continue to grieve. We hope these arrests mark a meaningful step in their journey toward healing and justice.”
Shawn Moayer was charged with murder. During his trial, the defense argued that he had acted in self-defense. The prosecution acknowledged that Beck had a knife but contended that Moayer was no longer in immediate danger when he shot Beck from a distance. On July 17, 2025, a jury convicted Moayer of second-degree murder with an enhancement for personally discharging a firearm. He was also found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm but was acquitted on charges of making criminal threats and dissuading a witness.
At the sentencing hearing, Beck’s mother submitted a letter to the court stating, “The death of my son has changed my whole world, the meaning of friendship, trust, and security.” After considering details of Moayer’s abusive childhood, the judge sentenced him in late 2025 to a term of 17 years to life in prison, concluding the case as of December 2025.
