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.

If you think unloading a van from a ship is a simple job, try doing it on the remote Tongan island of Fotuhaʻa.

A video from the small Haʻapai island shows residents struggling to bring a van ashore before pushing, pulling and hauling it uphill with ropes.

There is no wharf where the vehicle can simply be driven off the vessel and onto a road.

Instead, the islanders have to rely on their own strength, teamwork and ingenuity to get the job done.

The footage shows the van being brought ashore before a group of men begin the difficult task of moving it up the rugged slope.

Some push from behind while others pull on ropes, slowly manoeuvring the vehicle towards the top.

It is the kind of operation that would hardly attract attention in Nukuʻalofa, where vehicles can be unloaded at a proper port.

But on Fotuhaʻa, even bringing home a van can become a major community undertaking.

And it is not just vehicles that present a challenge.

In 2024, UNICEF reported how nurses delivering vaccines to children on Fotuhaʻa had to endure a dangerous landing because the island had no wharf.

Local men used ropes to pull their boat towards the rocky shore while waves threatened to push it away.

The nurses then had to climb uphill carrying their medical supplies.

Following the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami in January 2022, Australian military personnel used a helicopter to deliver nurses and vaccines to the island.

A local official reportedly cleared land with a machete to make a temporary helicopter landing area.

About Fotuhaʻa

Fotuhaʻa is a small limestone island in the Haʻapai group, with a population of 98 recorded in Tonga’s 2021 census, down from 131 in 2011.

The island’s rugged coastline and lack of proper landing facilities make transporting passengers, vehicles and heavy goods particularly difficult.

Unlike communities connected to major ports, residents must depend on boats, favourable sea conditions and the assistance of local people to move cargo ashore.

Fotuhaʻa was not among five outer islands specifically named for new jetties in Tonga’s 2024–2025 Budget Statement.

For its residents, the arrival of a vehicle is not necessarily the end of a sea journey. As the video shows, sometimes the hardest part begins when the boat reaches shore.

Two relatives of former Tongan Cabinet ministers unseated over electoral offences have won the parliamentary by-elections for Tongatapu 2 and Ongo Niua 17, returning both seats to the families of the politicians removed from Parliament.

In an unusual electoral outcome, Alvin Lafu Sika, the younger brother of former Infrastructure and Tourism Minister Sēmisi Sika, won Tongatapu 2, while ʻAminiasi Tonga Pauʻu Tangimana, the eldest son of former Finance Minister Lata ʻi Faingataʻa Tangimana, secured the Niua 17 seat previously held by his father.

The victories come just months after the two former ministers lost their parliamentary seats following separate court rulings arising from the November 2025 general election.

Sēmisi was unseated after the Supreme Court found that he had exceeded the statutory campaign spending limit and failed to disclose substantial election expenses, while Lata lost his seat following a conviction for election bribery.

The court rulings added an unusual dimension to the by-elections, particularly after it emerged that immediate family members of both unseated ministers were contesting their former seats with their support.

In Tongatapu 2, Alvin secured 609 votes, comfortably defeating his nearest rival, Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, who received 262 votes.

Dr Lei Paasi finished third with 248 votes. A total of nine candidates contested the Tongatapu 2 parliamentary seat.

The result gave Alvin a winning margin of 347 votes over Koloamatangi, with his total exceeding the combined votes of his two closest rivals.

Meanwhile, Aminiasi won the ʻOngo Niua 17 by-election with 435 votes, comfortably defeating his nearest rival, Sitiveni Sēlui, who received 144 votes, followed by Paea ʻi Vaha Filimoehala with 138 votes. Five candidates contested the seat.

Aminiasi secured a winning margin of 291 votes over Selui.

Court rulings that removed two ministers

In Semisi’s case, the Supreme Court found in May 2026 that he had breached section 24 of Tonga’s Electoral Act by exceeding the TOP$20,000 campaign spending limit and failing to fully disclose election-related expenditure.

Among the undeclared expenses was a TOP$9,517.50 payment made on his behalf by Five Star Finance to Suliana’s Dance Academy, together with food expenses associated with his election campaign.

Justice Garlick KC found beyond reasonable doubt that Sika had failed to declare all his election expenses and must have known that his financial return breached the Electoral Act.

The Court concluded that the violations were sufficiently serious to declare his election void and order that he be unseated from Parliament.

In a separate case, Lata ʻi Faingataʻa was found guilty of election bribery.

According to the Supreme Court judgment delivered by Justice Garlick KC on 24 March 2026, Lata was found guilty of election bribery after the Court established that he had used an intermediary, ʻIlaise Leua, to distribute fish to two female voters to influence their votes ahead of the November 2025 general election.

The Court subsequently declared his election void and ordered that he be unseated from Parliament.

Both men subsequently lost their appeals, clearing the way for their removal from Parliament.

The Legislative Assembly formally unseated the two former ministers on 3 August, creating vacancies that required fresh elections in their respective constituencies.

Both were also disqualified from contesting elections for five years.

A new political poll has strengthened the prospect of Labour returning to power next month — a result that would also return three MPs of Tongan descent, Carmel Sepuloni, Jenny Salesa and Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki, to the government benches.

The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll has Labour well ahead of National, polling 30.8 percent compared with National’s 25.9 percent ahead of the November 7 general election.

The wider bloc numbers also favour the left, although neither side currently has enough support to govern without the Opportunity Party.

Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori together have 47.6 percent support, compared with 45.5 percent for National, ACT and New Zealand First — putting the Labour-led bloc 2.1 percentage points ahead.

Opportunity, polling at 5.5 percent, therefore holds a potentially decisive position in determining which side can form the next government.

The numbers are particularly significant for New Zealand’s Tongan community, with Sepuloni, Salesa and Suisuiki all part of Labour’s parliamentary team and having publicly identified their Tongan heritage or connections.

Sepuloni is one of Labour’s most senior MPs and served as Deputy Prime Minister in the final months of the previous Labour government, while Salesa also previously served as a Cabinet minister.

Suisuiki, who entered Parliament in 2017, is standing again for Labour in the 2026 election.

National’s 25.9 percent is its worst poll result since its crushing defeat at the 2020 election, while Labour leader Chris Hipkins also leads Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as preferred prime minister.

The Greens surged to 14.8 percent, while New Zealand First polled at 10.6 percent, ACT at nine percent and Te Pāti Māori at two percent.

Hipkins remained preferred prime minister on 21.9 percent, ahead of Luxon on 17.1 percent.

National campaign chair Simeon Brown acknowledged the election would be close and said National had considerable work to do before polling day.

Hipkins said Labour was seeing momentum behind its campaign and believed New Zealanders wanted a change of government.

The poll also found more than half of respondents believed New Zealand was heading in the wrong direction under the current government.

With about a month remaining before election day, the formation of the next government remains finely balanced, but Labour’s lead over National and the left bloc’s narrow advantage have raised the prospect of Sepuloni, Salesa and Suisuiki once again sitting on the government side of Parliament.

Reid Research surveyed 1000 eligible voters between September 24 and October 1. The poll has a maximum reported margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

Source: RNZ

For the first time, Tongan footballers will soon be able to step onto a purpose-built artificial pitch at home, with ground broken today at Veitongo for a TOP$2.5 million FIFA-funded facility designed to keep the game going through Tonga’s wet and dry weather.

The historic project comes amid years of major FIFA investment in Tonga’s football infrastructure, with FIFA records showing more than US$6.1 million committed to infrastructure developments across the Kingdom.

Tonga Football Association (TFA) President Fetuʻu Vea turned the first shovel of soil at Veitongo, Tongatapu, today, formally launching the project after four years of planning.

Construction is expected to begin within the next two weeks, with the pitch currently scheduled for completion in March 2027.

Once completed, TFA says the artificial surface will provide a more reliable venue for training, competitive matches and other football activities throughout the year, supported by a purpose-built drainage system.

Tonga’s major sporting grounds have traditionally relied on natural grass, including Teufaiva National Stadium, the Kingdom’s main venue for international rugby and other major sporting events. The new Veitongo facility will therefore mark a significant shift to a purpose-built synthetic playing surface designed for more intensive and weather-resilient use.

The development marks a major change for football infrastructure in Tonga, where players have traditionally depended on natural-grass surfaces that can be affected by heavy rain and intensive use.

Dutch company wins contract

Netherlands-based sports-turf manufacturer Edel Grass was selected from five bidders to deliver the project in partnership with local company MK Construction Consultancy.

Edel Grass is recognised by FIFA as a Preferred Provider for Football Turf under the FIFA Quality Programme, placing the company among a small group of international suppliers recognised for their expertise in football-turf projects.

ITS Pacific Ltd designed the Veitongo project and will supervise construction.

ITS Pacific senior architect Ronaldo Aquino presented an overview of the development during today’s ceremony, while MK Construction representative Tutone Maka provided a technical briefing.

TFA said its General Secretary highlighted the vision behind the project — providing Tonga with a dependable playing surface capable of supporting football in both wet and dry conditions.

Millions invested in Tonga

The artificial pitch is the latest major development under FIFA’s long-running investment in Tongan football.

FIFA’s current Forward Programme profile for Tonga records more than US$6.1 million committed to infrastructure, accounting for 96.6 percent of the committed Forward funding listed for the Kingdom.

FIFA identifies that infrastructure investment as covering two stadiums, two technical centres and two pitches, although its publicly available data does not make clear whether the new TOP$2.5 million Veitongo project is already counted among those two pitch projects.

FIFA has previously financed major facilities in Tonga, including US$750,000 towards the Vavaʻu Technical Centre, which included a natural-grass football pitch, changing facilities and administration infrastructure.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited Tonga in 2023 to inspect FIFA Forward projects and discuss the development of football in the Kingdom.

The Veitongo project now takes that development in a new direction, replacing the limitations of natural grass with an artificial surface TFA says can provide more consistent access to football.

TFA described the groundbreaking as a historic milestone for the sport and said the development would create more opportunities for Tongan players and communities.

The new pitch is expected to be ready by March 2027.