Inglewood, Calif. – A 28-year-old father died this week protecting his 8-year-old son from gunfire. Along with a friend, the father and son were cleaning up the family’s garage Tuesday night when two men walked up to them and began firing.

The father, Fredrick Martin, used his body as a shield to protect his son from the bullets, but Martin was struck in the abdomen and upper torso. A bullet grazed his son, Tre’s leg, but he was unharmed.

Martin, or ‘Freddy Mac,’ as he’s known to his friends and family, later died at the hospital.

“He’s not gang affiliated, never has been. He graduated from Texas Southern University,” Martin’s grandmother, Darley Tankey said.

Joey Hickman, Martin’s best friend and godfather to his son, was shot in the ankle. Hickman had his back turned to the gunmen when they first approached the garage.