Utah prosecutors have charged a California man with murder in connection with a deadly January shooting that impacted a Tongan LDS church community in Salt Lake City, leaving two people dead.
John Vea Uasike Jr. 32 was arrested and taken into custody on April 14 in connection with six felony charges, including two counts of murder and weapons violations, the Salt Lake County district attorney’s office said in a news release.
The shooting took place on January 7 in the back parking lot of a place of worship for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church.
According to reports, the gunfire broke out from a dispute between people who knew each other and were attending a funeral. All the victims were adults. Police have previously said they do not believe the violence was connected to animus toward a particular faith.
The men who died in the shooting have been identified as Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38.
Gun Drawn in Confrontation
Witnesses saw Uasike get a gun from a black sport utility vehicle and point it at a man’s head, according to the newly unsealed charging information in the case.
Others tried to calm Uasike down and, while they held up his hand with the gun, Uasike fired twice into the air causing the others to duck then scatter, alleges the information written by Salt Lake City police detective Steven Bigelow.
Uasike then went around the SUV and allegedly fired toward the church and funeral attendees, killing two and striking others, Bigelow wrote.
A witness said someone returned fire and Uasike, who was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound, went to California after being treated, according to Bigelow.
In February, a federal grand jury indicted two other men on firearms charges in connection with the shootings, which also left six people injured.
