A California man who was born and raised in Auburn was killed last month in what authorities have called a random act of violence.

William “Billy” Harig, 59, was taking a walk Dec. 11, 2007 at approximately 8:50 p.m. in Lemoore, Calif. when he suffered a single stab wound in the abdomen, according to the Lemoore Police Department. Despite efforts to save him, Harig died at the scene, police said.

A 19-year-old Lemoore man, Robert Medina, was later arrested connection with the incident. Medina was charged with murder after authorities accused him of stabbing Harig. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment.

Police are saying the incident that caused Harig's death was unprovoked, his brother Tom Harig said.

“Things like that just shouldn't happen,” he said.

Though William Harig had settled on the West Coast, he spent much of his childhood in Auburn. He attended St. Alphonsus School and Mount Carmel High School until he moved to New Jersey with his family in 1967.

Harig played guitar since he was 16, and he started his first rock band, The Sheffields, in Auburn during the early 1960s, Tom Harig said. Billy continued his interest in music until his death, he added.

“That is really what brought him joy, being able to play a tune for people in an audience,” said Tom, who currently lives in Glens Falls, N.Y.

Harig's father, Paul, was a telephone engineer in town for many years, and his brother, Paul, was a photographer for the Citizen Advertiser in the early 1960s, Tom Harig said.

“He knew where he was from. Auburn was in his blood, still,” he said.

Sam Giangreco said he was playing with a band called The Escorts at the same time Harig was playing with The Sheffields. The Beatles had recently hit, and Auburn had an active rock scene. Bands used to be able to play gigs and dances for $50 a night, he said.

Giangreco said he remembered Harig and The Sheffields playing covers of rock bands like The Byrds.

“He was a very good guitar player, and a nice guy, too,” he said.

Harig was a 20-year veteran of the Navy, and he served on the aircraft carriers USS Ranger, Midway and Enterprise. He retired as a chief petty officer.