SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An alleged gang member on trial in the new federal courthouse was shot Monday after lunging at a person on the witness stand, according to the FBI.
“During the trial this morning the defendant went after, engaged the witness stand, and when he engaged the witness at the witness stand, he was shot by the U.S. Marshals Service,” said Mark Dressen the FBI’s assistant special agent-in-charge for the Utah bureau.
“From what I understand, the defendant may have grabbed a pen or a pencil and charged the witness stand at that time,” he said.
Siale Maveni Angilau, aka “C-Down,” was shot multiple times in the chest.
Angilau was still breathing when he was taken away in an ambulance to a local hospital. No one else in the courtroom was injured, including the witness who was on the stand.
Dressen did not comment on how many shots were fired, how many times Angilau was hit, or if there were any stray bullets that ended up in the walls or ceiling of the new courtroom.
Court documents say Angilau is a member of the Tongan Crip Gang.
The shooting occurred inside Judge Tena Campbell’s courtroom on the eighth floor during a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act trial involving the alleged member of the Tongan Crip Gang, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Utah.
Portia Louder was in the courtroom next door about 9:30 a.m. She said she didn’t hear the gunshot but said, “I saw marshals run through our courtroom and say, ‘Somebody has been shot.’”
Louder said she wasn’t allowed to leave for about an hour. On the way out, she said a marshal told her, “It was with the Tongan Crip Gang, I guess. The defendant tried to stab the witness on the stand and I believe the marshal shot him.”
Angilau, 25, is the last of more than a dozen alleged TCG members to stand trial in the ongoing case, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The trial started Monday morning. Charges include rackeetering, robbery, carjacking, assault on a federal officer and weapons violations.
In 2011, a jury convicted seven men after a weekslong trial.
Convicted in the case were Eric Kamahele, 24, aka “Smooth”; Mataika Tuai, 22, aka “Fish”; David Kamoto, 24, aka “D-Down”; Daniel Maumau, 25, aka “D-Loc”; Kepa Maumau, 24, aka “Kap-Loc”; and Sitamipa Toki, 28, aka “Tok-Loc.” The jury acquitted David Walsh, 32, aka “D-Nutt.”
Their crimes included robberies, assaults and use of firearms during crimes of violence committed in support of an ongoing criminal organization.
Jurors at the time feared retaliation and wanted assurances from the judge that they would be safe. A note from a juror asking for such assurances nearly caused a mistrial in the case.
The seven men were among 17 suspected TCG members indicted in 2010 under RICO, which prosecutors call a powerful tool for dismantling and disrupting street gangs.
Yellow police tape continued to surround the plaza midday Monday where the entrance to the new courthouse is located. Dressen said the eighth floor would be closed all day. There was no estimate when the rest of the building might be reopened.
“I think the marshals did an exceptional job. They stopped the threat to the witness,” he said.
The new 410,000-square-foot building at the corner of 400 South and West Temple opened just last Monday. It replaced the adjacent Frank E. Moss Courthouse, which was completed in 1905 and hadn’t had any major additions or renovations in 80 years.
SOURCE: KSL
Ongoongo Faka-Tonga / News in Tongan
Fai 'e Tevita Katoa
Mahaloʻi ne fanaʻi ʻe he US Marshal ha mēmipa ʻo e kau kengi Tonga
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Naʻe fanaʻi ha taha oku mahaloʻi ko e mēmipa ʻo e kau kengi Tonga ʻi he fale hopo foʻou ʻo e vāhengá ʻi he ʻaho Monité hili ʻene ʻohofi ha taha ne ʻi he puha ʻo e kau fakamoʻoní, fakatatau ki he FBI.
Naʻe pehē ʻe Mark Dressen ko e fakafofonga makehe ʻo e FBI ne lolotonga ngāue ʻi he tafaʻaki ko iá ʻi Utah, “Naʻe ʻohofi ʻe he fakaʻiloá lolotonga ʻo e hopó ʻi he pongipongí ni, pea ʻi heʻene faʻaki atu ki he tuʻuʻanga ʻo e fakamoʻoní, pea ʻi heʻene fetakai ko iá, naʻe fanaʻi ai ia ʻe he U.S, Marshal Service”.
Naʻá ne pehē, “Meí he meʻa ko ē naʻe mahino ki aí, mahalo naʻe feinga e fakaʻiloá ke ne toʻo hake ha peni pe peni vahevahe ʻo hangatonu atu ki he tuʻuʻanga ʻo e fakamoʻoní ʻi he taimi ko iá”
“Naʻe toutou fanaʻi ʻa Siale Māveni Angilau, ʻa ia ʻoku toe ʻiloa ko C-Down, ʻi hono fatafatá.
Naʻe kei moʻui pē foki ʻa Angilau ʻi he taimi naʻe ʻave ai ia ʻi he ambulance ki he fale mahaki pē he feituʻú. Ne ʻikai ke lavea ha taha naʻe ʻi he fale hopó, kau ai ʻa e fakamoʻoni naʻe ʻi he tuʻuʻangá.
Naʻe ʻikai ke lave ʻa Dressen pe ko e foʻi fana ʻe fiha naʻe faí, ko e tuʻo fiha ʻa e fana naʻe tau ʻia Angilaú, pē ne ʻi ai ha ngaahi fana naʻe hala ʻo tau ia ʻi he holisí mo e ʻaofí ʻo e fale hopo foʻoú.
ʻOku hā ʻi he fakamatala fakamaauʻanga ko Angilau ko e meāmipa ʻo e kau kengi Tonga.
Ko e fana ko ʻení naʻe hoko ia ʻi he loki fakamaauʻanga ʻo Fakamaau Tena Campbell ʻi he funga vaka 8 lolotonga e hopo ko ia ʻi he vā ʻo e Racketeer Influence mo e Corrupt Organisation Act fekauʻaki mo e tukuakiʻi ko ia ʻo e mē mipa ʻo e Kau Kengi Tongá fakatatau ki he fefine talitali fononga ki he ʻŌfisi U.S Attorney ʻi Utah.
Ko Portia Lauder naʻe ʻi he loki hoko maí pea memei ko e 9:30am. Naʻá ne pehē naʻe ʻikai fanongo ia ki he pā ʻa e faná ka ne pehē, “Naʻá ku sio ki he lele ʻa e ʻōfisa sōtia maʻolunga ʻi loto fale hopo mo ne pehē, “Kuo fanaʻi e toko taha”
Naʻe pehē ʻe Louder naʻe taʻofi ia ke ʻoua naʻa mavahe ʻo ofi ʻi he houa ʻe tahá. Naʻá ne lave ki hono tala ange ʻe he ʻōfisa sōtia maʻolunga ʻi heʻene lue mai ki tuʻá, Kuó u tui ko e meʻa ʻeni ki he Kau Kengi Tongá. Naʻe feinga e fakaʻiloá ke hokaʻi ʻaki ha meʻa ʻa e fakamoʻoni ne ʻi he puha pea kuó u tui naʻe fanaʻi ia ʻe he ʻōfisa sōtia maʻolungá”.
Fakatatau ki he lau ʻa e U.S. Attorney Office, Ko Angilau, taʻu 25, ko e fakamuimui taha ia ʻo e niʻihi ne hopoʻi ʻi hono tukuakiʻi ʻi he kau kengi Tongá (TCG) ʻi he keisi ʻoku lolotonga lele. Naʻe kamata e hopó ʻi he pongipongi Monité. Ko e fakaʻiló ʻoku kau ai ʻa e ngaahi ngāue maumau lao, kaihaʻa, faʻao fakamālohi ʻo ha kā, ʻohofi ʻo ha ʻōfisa fakapuleʻanga mo e ngaahi maumau lao fekauʻaki mo e naunau tau.
Ko e 2011, naʻe tautea ai ʻe he kau sulá ha toko 7 hili ia ha hopo uike ʻe taha.
Naʻe tauteaʻi ʻi he keisi ko ʻení ʻa Eric Kamahele, 24, ne ʻiloa ko “Smooth”; Mataika Tuai, 22, ne ʻiloa ko “Fish”; David Kamoto, 24, ne ʻiloa ko “D-Down”; Daniel Maumau, 25, ne ʻiloa ko “D-Loc”; Kepa Maumau, 24, ne ʻiloa ko “Kap-Loc”; peá mo Sitamipā Toki, 28, ne ʻiloa ko Tok-Loc.” Naʻe tuʻutuʻuni e kau sulá ke tuku ange ʻa David Walsh, 32, ne ʻiloa ko “D-Nutt.”
Ko ʻenau hiá naʻe kau ai ʻa e kaihaʻa, fakamamahi mo e ngāueʻaki ʻo ha meʻafana ki he kaihaʻa ko e fakaʻaiʻai ʻo ha kautaha faihia.
Naʻe manavahē foki e kau sula ʻo e keisi ko iá naʻa ʻi ai ha fakatanga pea naʻa nau fiemaʻu ke fakapapauʻi ange meí he fakamaaú te nau malu. Naʻe meimei hoko ha fehalaaki ʻi he hopó tuʻunga ʻi ha kiʻi fakamatala tohi meí ha taha ʻo e kau sulá.
Ko e kau tangata ʻe toko 7 ko iá ko e konga ia ʻo e toko 17 ʻoku tukuakiʻi ko e mēmipa ʻo e TCG ne fakaʻilo ʻi he 2010 ʻi he lao ko ia ki he maumau lao mo e ngaahi kautaha fakamoveuveu (RICO) ʻa ia ne fiemaʻu ai ʻe he kau ʻōfisa talatalaakí ha tuʻutuʻuni fefeka ke veteki mo veuki ʻaki ʻa e kengi he hala puleʻangá.
Naʻe kei takaiʻi pē ʻe he tepi engeenga ʻa e kau polisí ʻa e falé ʻi he hoʻatā Monité ʻa e feituʻu hūʻanga ko ē ki he falehoopo foʻoú. Naʻe pehē ʻe Dressen ko e loki 8 ia ʻe tāpuni ʻaho kakato ia. ʻOku ʻikai leva ha maʻu pau pe ʻe fakaava fakakū ʻa e toenga ʻo e ngaahi lokí.
Naʻá ne pehē, “ʻOku tui ia ne fakahoko ʻehe kau ʻōfisa sōtia maʻolungá ha ngāue maʻongoʻonga. Naʻa nau taʻofi ʻa e fakamanavahē ko ia ki he fakamoʻoní.”
Ko e fale foʻou sikuea fute ko eni ʻe 410,000 ʻi he tuliki ʻo e 400 South mo e West Temple naʻe toki huufi pē ʻi he Mōnite ʻo e uike kuo ʻosí. Ko e fetongi ʻo e Fale Hopo Frank E. Moss, ʻa ia ne kamata ngāueʻaki ʻi he 1905 peá ne teʻeki ke fakahoko ha fakalahi pe ha liliu ki ai ʻi he taʻu ʻaki ʻeni ʻe 80.
Utah nurse resigns over racist comment following Tongan death
UPDATED: A statement from the University of Utah Health Care says an employee it has placed on administrative leave after learning of a series of disturbing and offensive comments he posted online has resigned.
The male nurse at the University of Utah Health Care was being investigated by the health organisation about offensive remarks he made after a Tongan Crip Gang member was killed by a US Marshall.
Following the death of a Tongan gang member, Todd Shrum, a cardiac nurse at the University of Utah Hospital wrote: “Tongan trash….Kill them all” on the 2News Facebook Page.
Siale Maveni Angilau 25 — aka "C-Down" — was shot several times in the chest on Monday after he tried to attack on a witness, Vaiola Mataele Tenifa, during a trial in the federal court house in Salt Lake City. He died later in a local hospital.
According to US news sources, Angilau was being tried on charges that included racketeering, robbery, carjacking, assault on a federal officer and weapons violations.
KSL-TV reported that Angilau had been in prison since September 2007 for violating his probation. The next year he was convicted of obstructing justice, a second-degree felony, and failure to stop at the command of an officer, a third-degree felony. Angilau was released into the custody of U.S. marshals last Friday.
Reaction
Shrum’s comment stirred outrage on social media and Tongans reacted swiftly.
Rabina Langi Tangilapa commented: “When I looked at his page I was surprised he worked in the health care industry. This guy seems crazy. I trust the Hospital will do their best to address this and not only because I'm Tongan but for the human race. What a sad way to go through life being hateful to your human race.”
Shrum’s employer’s, the University of Utah Health Care, which includes a hospital, sent him on administrative leave while they investigate the situation. Today they released another statement saying he has resigned.
"Earlier this week University of Utah Health Care placed an employee on administrative leave after learning of a series of disturbing and offensive comments posted online by the individual. The comments created distress in the community, disrupted hospital business, and undermined the trust of patients. The employee in question has since resigned," a university spokesman said.
“University of Utah Health Care is committed to providing high quality care to everyone and we value the trust our patients place in us. The alleged comment represents unacceptable behaviour that undermines that trust".
Mixed views
Reactions from the on-line Tongan community have been mixed.
Koli Pilivi said: “Why give a man who posted up negative and very hateful comments towards minorities paid leave?! It doesn’t make sense to do that!! But my family and Polynesian community appreciate the fact that you are taking care of this situation.”
However some people took a different view. One Facebook user wrote:
“Being a gangster gets you nowhere but prison. [It is either kill someone or someone kills you]. Keep the tradition, show love and respect to everybody especially to your own parents, grandparents and siblings. When you love and respect them then you love and respect everybody. Parents stand up and teach your kids the right way of living otherwise, all you Tongan kids out there who wanna be gangsters will either end up in jail or the cemetery.”
Shrum
Shrum told Chris Jones of 2News his comments were a "poor choice of words…very, very incredibly poor choice of words. I meant no ill will towards the Tongan race whatsoever.”
However, according to 2News Shrum’s personal page is littered with negative comments about Muslins, Hispanics, and African Americans.
An example of this is his comments on a story concerning Muslims in Britain. Shrum posted: "Kill all the stinking Muzzies in the UK. Your problem will go away."
2News also quoted his reaction to a story about undocumented immigrants, in which he wrote: "Send all the illegals back to Mexico, then nuke Mexico, tired of all the worthless wet back trash stinking up this great country."
Gang’s Mormon connection
According to former policeman Ron Stallworth, many Tongan Crip Gang members came from families that had converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons).
Stallworth told news site 4utah.com that gang members were “very devout … and yet they believed strongly in the principles of their gang.”
Many of them lived a double life, in church on one day, and committing violent crimes the next.
The main points
Sources:
‘University hospital nurse placed on paid leave after posting racist comments’
Facebook page
University of Utah Health Care
‘FBI: Alleged gang member shot, killed after lunging at witness in court’
‘Police claim violent Utah Tongan Crip Gang professed to be men of faith’
Documentary on Tongan Crip Gang
Ongoongo Faka-Tonga / News in Tongan
Kuo fakafisi 'a e tangata neesi i he Tokangaekina’anga Mo’ui ‘a e Univesiti o ‘Iuta fekau’aki mo ha’ane lau fakalotomamahi i he hili ‘a hono fana’i e he taha e kau US Marshall ‘o mate ‘a e taha ‘o e kau memipa ‘o e kau kengi Tonga ‘oku ‘iloa ko e Tonga Crip Gang.
Ko e fakaha 'eni e fakafisi 'i ha fakamatala kuo tuku ange mai 'e he 'Univesiti 'i he pongipongi 'o e 'aho ni.
Hili e malolo ‘a e memipa ‘o e kengi Tonga na’e fai ‘e Todd Shrum ko ha neesi ki he mafu ‘i he Falemahaki ‘a e ‘Univesiti ‘o ‘Iutaa ‘ene tohi he peesi Feisipuka ‘a e 2News ‘o pehe ko e Angama’olalo faka-Tonga – tamate’i kotoa kinautolu.
Na’e fana’i tatu’olahi ‘a Siale Maveni Angilau ta’u 25 ‘a ia ne toe ‘iloa ko “C-Down” i hono fatafata i he Monite hili ia ‘ene feinga ke ‘ohofi ‘a e tokotaha Tonga pe ‘e taha ko Vaiola Mataele Tenifa na’e fakamooni ma’a e kau polisi ‘o fehangahangai ai mo Angilau lolotonga ha hopo ‘i ha fale fakamaau’aga fetalolo ‘i Salt Lake City. Na’a ne toki mate ‘i ha falemahaki fakafeitu’u pe.
Fakatatau ki he ngaahi mau’anga fakamatala ‘Amelika na’e hopo’i ‘a Angilau ki he ngaahi faka’ilo fekau’aki mo e ngaahi fa’ufa’u ke fakahoko ha hia kaiha’a, kaiha’a ka, ‘ohofi ‘o ha ‘ofisa polisi fetalolo pehe ki ha ngaahi maumaulao fekau’aki mo e meatau.
Fakatatau ki he lipooti ‘a e KSL-TV ko Angilau na’e ‘i pilisone ia ‘i Sepitema 2007 ki he’ene maumau’i ‘ene polopeisini.
I he ta’u hono hoko na’e tautea ai ia ki he’ene fakafe’autungia’i e fekumi ki he faitotonu, fakahoko hia ‘i he kalasi ‘oku fakakalakalasi hono mamafa ki he tikili hono ua, mo e ‘ikai ke tu’u ‘i ha tu’utu’uni atu ‘a ha ‘ofisa polisi ‘a ia ‘oku fakakalakalasi e mamafa e hia ko ia ki he tikili tolu.
Na’e tuku ange atu leva ‘a Angilau ke tokanga’i ‘e he US Marshalls ‘i he Falaite kuo ‘osi.
Nga’uta:
Na’e langa’ia ‘e he lau ‘a Shrum ha mamahi lahi fau mei he kainga Tonga ‘o ‘ikai toe taimi hono enau hapohapo’i e tangata ni.
Na’e pehe ‘e Rabina Langi Tangilapa ko e taimi ko e na’e sio ai ‘i he peesi ‘a Shrum he’ene lau na’a ne ‘ohovale he ‘asi ‘oku ne ngaue ‘i he ngaueanga ki hono tokangaekina ‘o e mo’ui. Naa ne pehe ‘oku hange siana ni ha vale.
Na’a ne pehe ‘foki ‘oku ne falala ‘e fai e he fale mahaki honau lelei taha ke vete ange ‘a e mea ni ‘o ‘ikai koe’uhi pe he ko e Tonga ia ka ki he kakai kotoa.
Ka kuo ngaue foki e Falemahaki Iutaa ia kia Shrum ‘o ‘oange ene malolo ki ‘api kae vahe pe lolotonga hano fakatotolo’i ‘ene lau fakamamahi na’e fai.
Pehe ‘e he Univesiti kuo nau fanongo ki he ngaahi launga kau ki he lau fakamamahi ‘a Sharum na’e fai. Na’a nau pehe foki ‘oku faitukuingata ‘a e Tokangaekina’anga Mo’ui ‘a e ‘Univesiti ke fakaai ‘a e fatongia tokangaekina ki he taha kotoa ‘i he tu’unga ma’olunga pea ‘oku nau fakamahu’inga’i e falala ‘a e kau mahaki ‘iate kinautolu. Ko e lau fakamamahi kuo tukuaki’i oku ne fakafofonga’i ha to’onga ‘oku ‘ikai ala tali ka ‘oku ne uesia e falala ko ia.
'Oku pehe ‘e he falemahaki lolotonga ‘enau fakatotolo ‘oku fai ‘oku fakaafe’i atu ha taha ‘oku ne fakatokanga’i ha fa’ahinga fakakehekehe pe ‘oku fai ki he kau mahaki ‘i he falemahaki ‘univeisiti ‘o Iutaa ke fetu’utaki ange ki he 801-581-8365 or fika ta’e totongi 800-735-2258.
Kehekehe pe ngaahi fakakaukau:
Ko e nga’uta ‘a e komiuniti Tonga he ‘initaneti na’e fio pe anga ‘enau fakakaukau. Na’e pehe ‘e he tokotaha ko Koli Pilivi pe ko e ha e ‘uhinga hono fekau ke malolo ki api kae kei ‘oange pe ‘ene vahe ‘a ha taha kuo ne fai ha lau ta’e’ofa mo nekativi ki he kakai ‘oku taku ko e falukunga kakai tokosii ‘i he anga ‘o e nofo.
'Oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga malie hono fai ‘o e me’a ko ia. Ka ‘oku hounga pe kiate ia mo hono kakai polinisia ‘oku fai ‘e he Falemahaki ha ngaue ki he me’a kuo hoko.
Neongo ia na’e kehe e sio ‘a e ni’ihi. Na’e pehe ‘e he tokotaha ‘i he Feisipuka, ‘oku ‘ikai ha toe feitu’u ma’a kita ‘i ha’ate hoko ko ha kengi ka ko pilisone pe.
Fai e tukufakaholo pea fakahaha ‘a e ‘ofa mo e faka’apa’apa ki he taha kotoa tautefito ki ho’omou matu’a totonu, fanga kui mo e fototehina mo tuofafine. Ko hono faka’apa’apa’i kiakinautolu te nau faka’apa’apai kimoutolu. Oku fiema’u ke tu’u hake ‘a e matu’a ‘o ako’i ‘enau fanau ki he founga totonu he ka ‘ikai ko kinautolu ‘a e fanau ‘oku nau fie kengi ka ‘ikai pe ke nau iku ki pilisone ko fa’itoka.
Shrum:
Na’e lava foki ‘o faka’eke’eke ‘a Shrum ‘e Chris Jones mei he 2News fekau’aki mo ‘ene komeni ko ‘eni ‘oku fai ai ‘a e felauaki. Na’e fakaha ‘e Shrum ‘ene kole fakamolemole mo ne pehe ko hono mo’oni ko e fu’u matu’aki kovi pe ‘ene fili lea ne ngaue’aki. Na’a ne pehe ‘oku ‘ikai aupito ha’ane teitei loto taufehi’a ‘e taha ki he matakali Tonga.
Kaekehe fakatatau ki he 2News ‘oku hange ha neveneve ‘a e ngaahi lau kovi ‘a Shrum ia ki he kakai Mosilemi, Hisipeniki kae pehe ki he kau ‘Afilika-‘Amelika oku ‘asi he’ene peesi feisipuka. ‘Oku iai ‘ene lau ‘e taha ‘i he’ene peesi pe ki he kau mosilemi ke tamate’i kotoa kinautolu kae ‘osi ‘a e palopalema.
'I ai mo ‘ene lau kovi ki ha kau Mekisikou ‘i ha me’a faka’imikuleisini ne ne pehe ai ke fakafoki pea faka’auha kinautolu. Ko e fekau’aki mo e Mamonga: Fakatatau ki ha polisi ki mu’a ko Ron Stallworth naa ne pehe ko e tokolahi ‘o e kau kengi Tongan Crip Gang ko ‘enau ha’u mei he ngaahi famili kuo nau ului ki he Siasi ‘o Sisu Kalaisi ‘o e Kau Ma’oni’oni ‘o e Ngaahi ‘Aho Ki mui ni.
Na’e fakaha ‘e Stallworth ki he 4utah.com ko e kau kengi fa’a lotu ‘aupito…ka ne nau kei tui pe ki he ngaahi tefito’i fakakaukau ‘o e fakakengi. Ko e tokolahi ‘ia kinautolu ne ua e me’a ne nau mo’ui’aki, ‘i ‘apisiasi ‘i he ‘aho ‘e taha pea o leva ‘o fai e hia he ‘aho hono hoko.