Mystery over man shot dead in tent with two young daughters

Police are investigating the mysterious death of a 35-year-old dad shot while camping with his two young daughters, who may have been with him inside his tent when he was killed.

Tristan Beaudette was shot at least once in the upper torso in the early hours of Friday morning, while on a family camping trip in California’s Malibu Creek State Park, according to police.

Mr Beaudette, of Irvine, California, may have been shot while he was inside a tent with his two young daughters, aged two and four, Lt Rodney Moore told The Los Angeles Times.

“The theory we are working with is he was shot inside the tent. The children were inside the tent, too,” he said.

The two children were not hurt in the shooting at the popular hiking and camping spot in the Calabasas area. The case is being treated as homicide.

Mr Beaudette has been remembered by friends and family as a devoted father and husband, a lover of the outdoors, and a “brilliant” chemist who worked in the pharmaceutical industry. He is survived by his wife, Erica, and his two young girls.

A GoFundMe page set up by Mr Beaudette’s family members expressed horror at “the senselessness of this crime.”

“Words cannot express the absolute devastation and sorrow we feel from the loss of someone so dear to our family,” the page said.

Police told CBS Los Angeles on Saturday that no leads, no suspect and no motive for the shooting had yet been identified.

As the homicide investigation continues, at least 60 campsites in Malibu Creek State Park have been temporarily closed to the public, reported NBC4. Hiking trails in the area will remain open.