CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) — The family of a Clovis educator, who was violently attacked early Thursday morning, says he has died after being taken off life support.
37-year-old Geoff Bernardi’s mother, Erin Adams, confirmed his death to Action News on Saturday afternoon.
RELATED: Family seeks justice for beloved Clovis educator after violent attack
Clovis Police say Bernardi was violently attacked near the Dry Creek canal bank behind the Pacific Grove apartments near Villa and Barstow avenues around 1 a.m. Thursday.
“He went outside to smoke and he can’t smoke on site of the apartment complex, so he walked to the canal bank. Somebody asked him if he would give him a cigarette, and he said, ‘Sure, buddy,” Adams said. “And they hit him over the head, he went to the ground, he yelled to his girlfriend, ‘Run!’ And then the person continued to beat him until he was unrecognizable.”
Bernardi was a career technical education teacher with Clovis Unified, working closely with students on theater productions. He would have celebrated his 38th birthday next month.
Cloivs Police are now investigating Bernardi’s death as a homicide and are asking for the public’s help in finding the person responsible.
This is the city’s third homicide of the year.
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