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Utah prosecutors are seeking the extradition of John Vea Uasike Jr. from California on murder charges stemming from a deadly Jan. 7 shooting in Salt Lake City, court documents unsealed Monday said. Prosecutors said law enforcement took Uasike into custody April 14 in connection with a set of felony charges that include two counts of murder and related weapons allegations.
The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office said Uasike, 32, is facing six felony charges tied to the shooting at the back parking lot of a place of worship associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church. Prosecutors said the men who died were identified as Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38.
According to investigators, the shooting happened during a dispute involving people who knew each other and were attending a funeral, and police previously said they did not believe the violence was connected to animus toward a particular faith. Uasike was taken to a hospital after being wounded by a gunshot, and charging documents describe what authorities say happened after others attempted to intervene.
In the unsealed charging information, a witness told police that Uasike retrieved a gun from a black sport utility vehicle and pointed it at a man’s head. The document alleges that others tried to calm Uasike down and held up his hand while he had the gun, but that Uasike fired twice into the air, causing those nearby to duck and scatter.
The document further alleges that Uasike then went around the SUV and fired toward the church and funeral attendees, killing two and striking others. It also says that after the shooting, someone returned fire and Uasike went to California after being treated for his wound.
The church involved in the case mostly serves Tongan congregants, according to the church’s website. The site says LDS missionaries brought the church’s faith to Tonga in the 1890s, and it notes that more than 25% of the U.S. Tongan population resides in Utah.
Prosecutors said it was unclear whether Uasike has an attorney who could comment on his behalf. In addition to the state charges, the case has also involved federal action: in February, a federal grand jury indicted two other men on firearms charges connected to the shootings that left six people injured.