A Tongan father accused of giving his teenage son the gun allegedly used in a fatal shooting outside a funeral service in Utah has made his first court appearance.
Afuhia Masiu Manatau appeared remotely from the Salt Lake County Jail on Tuesday following his arrest over the August 17 shooting in Kearns, FOX 13 News reported.
Manatau has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Vilisoni Angilau.
His 17-year-old son, Taitusi Kai Manatau, has also been charged with murder.
According to FOX 13 News, authorities allege Manatau gave his son the firearm following an altercation between Taitusi and Angilau outside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stake center.
Taitusi allegedly shot and killed Angilau.
Angilau’s twin brother then managed to take possession of the gun and allegedly used it to shoot and injure Taitusi.
The twin brother was subsequently struck by gunfire after either Taitusi or his father allegedly regained possession of the weapon, FOX 13 reported.
Taitusi and Angilau’s twin brother were both taken to hospital in critical condition.
Authorities allege Manatau and two other people then placed his injured son in a minivan and drove away before being stopped several blocks from the scene.
In addition to the murder charge, Manatau faces multiple counts of felony discharge of a firearm, assault and obstruction of justice.
Taitusi faces murder, two counts of felony discharge of a firearm and one count of obstruction of justice.
During Tuesday’s brief appearance, the court scheduled Manatau’s detention hearing and scheduling conference before Judge Patrick Corum for September 11.
Source: FOX 13 News, Salt Lake City.
