Tributes have poured in from grieving relatives, former schoolmates and friends of a Tongan man who was shot dead by sheriff’s deputies in Sacramento, California, with many remembering him as a humble and kind-hearted person while others called for justice over his death.
The death of 34-year-old Ingold Guttenbeil on Sunday, October 4, has sparked questions over the actions of the deputies after a witness video emerged showing the moments before he was fatally shot.
According to Sacramento television station FOX40, sheriff’s deputies responded to a parking lot near Marconi and Eastern avenues on Sunday morning after a woman reported seeing a man she alleged had fired a gun at her and her husband the previous night.
The woman told authorities the man was sleeping on the ground with a gun on his lap.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said deputies arrived and found Guttenbeil matching the caller’s description.
Deputies reportedly used a loud horn to wake him before issuing repeated commands.
The sheriff’s office alleged Guttenbeil failed to comply with instructions and was shot after lowering his hands and beginning to turn towards deputies.
However, a witness who recorded the confrontation disputed that interpretation.
Robert Bertges, who provided the video to FOX40, said Guttenbeil appeared confused after being abruptly awakened and was trying to pull up his trousers when deputies opened fire.
“He had just stood up and his pants were falling down,” Bertges told FOX40.
Bertges said several deputies were shouting different instructions at Guttenbeil, potentially adding to his confusion.
The position of Guttenbeil’s gun at the moment deputies fired remains unclear.
Community activist Berry Accius, who attended Monday night’s vigil, also questioned whether the shooting was justified.
Accius argued that deputies should have attempted to de-escalate the confrontation rather than resorting to deadly force.
Ingold’s wife, Jasmine Guttenbeil, has questioned how deputies handled the confrontation, saying the tragedy has left their four sons without a father.
Widow Questions Police Response
At Monday night’s candlelight vigil, Jasmine spoke emotionally about the devastating impact of her husband’s death on their children.
“It could have been handled in a totally different manner than what happened,” she told FOX40.
She said the loss would remain with her and their four sons long after the public attention surrounding the shooting had faded.
“Me and my kids are going to mourn for the rest of our lives,” she said.
Jasmine also drew strength from her Christian faith, quoting Psalm 34:18 about God being close to those who are broken-hearted.
The vigil brought together grieving family members, friends and community advocates who called for answers and accountability.
The shooting is being investigated by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Professional Standards Division.
Facebook tributes pour in
As mourners gathered for a candlelight vigil in Sacramento on Monday night, relatives and friends took to Facebook to express their shock, share memories of Guttenbeil and offer condolences to his family.
His cousin, Soi Vehikite, confirmed the family connection in an emotional Facebook post.
“My cousin was the man shot by Sacramento Police on Sunday,” Vehikite wrote, adding that the family had already suffered several deaths this year.
The post prompted an outpouring of sympathy from relatives and friends, including people who remembered Guttenbeil from his younger years in Tonga.
Mosese Moa Tupou recalled their time together at ʻAtele, describing Guttenbeil as a kind, loving and well-mannered person.
“Such sweet memories of this brother from our school days at ʻAtele. He was a kind, loving and respectful man,” Tupou wrote in Tongan.
Another friend, Lita Pepa, said she had known Guttenbeil while growing up in Vaini.
“I knew Ini when we were growing up in Vaini. He was a humble guy. So sad. Rest in peace, Ini,” she wrote.
The tributes reflected the close connections Guttenbeil maintained with people who knew him in Tonga, many of whom referred to him affectionately as Ini or Ingi.
Grace Sch-Guttenbeil expressed sympathy for Vehikite and the wider family, describing the death as a tragedy that had deeply affected them.
“What a bad tragedy. May Ingold Guttenbeil rest in peace. May God comfort you all at this time of sorrow,” she wrote.
Selina T Fa’asolo also offered condolences, writing: “RIP cuz Ingold,” while sending love to the grieving family.
Others expressed concern about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Molini Guttenbeil posted the hashtags #JusticeForIni and #IngoldGuttenbeil, while Amelia Loiti Talakai Pomee offered condolences and expressed hope that justice would be served.
Siosifa Lokotui said he had watched the video of the shooting and was heartbroken by what he saw.
“I saw the video, and it breaks my heart,” he wrote, describing the death as devastating and offering condolences to the family.
His description of the shooting as murder reflected his personal reaction, rather than any finding by investigators.
