One dead, brother charged in killing

EAST PALO ALTO -- Two young men were arrested Monday night inconnection with an argument gone awry that killed one young womanand left another injured from a shotgun allegedly fired by her ownbrother.

Police say they hope this tragic tale, which saw two men shootingthe women they intended to protect, will be the final chapter in aspate of violence during the last two weeks that has seen threekilled and six injured from gunfire.

A 17-year-old East Palo Alto boy and Absalom Tuimavave, 18, alsoof East Palo Alto, were arrested on suspicion of murder inconnection with the death of 19-year-old Melevea Fifita of East PaloAlto and one count each of attempted murder in the shooting of 21-year-old Seu Tuimavave of San Francisco.

According to East Palo Alto police, Absalom and Seu Tuimavave aresiblings.

The 17-year-old is being held at the county's Youth ServicesCenter; his name is not being released because he is a juvenile.Absalom Tuimavave is being held at San Mateo County jail.

Charges likely will be filed today and the two likely will bearraigned this afternoon, Chief Deputy District Attorney SteveWagstaffe said. He said the 17-year-old likely will be charged as anadult.

East Palo Alto police Lt. Tom Alipio said that Fifita and SeuTuimavave began arguing in the 2700 block of Fordham Street, nearCostano Elementary school, around 10:30 p.m.Friday.

The fight escalated between the two girls, Alipio said, andAbsalom Tuimavave arrived to back his sister, and the 17-year-oldboy arrived to back Fifita.

The 17-year-old pulled out a pistol and fired shots at AbsalomTuimavave, Alipio said. In response, Absalom Tuimavave pulled out ashotgun and fired at the 17-year-old boy.

In the crossfire, the 17-year-old boy fatally injured Fifita.Alipio said he could not comment on where or how many times she wasshot, although previous reports have said she was shot in the chestmore than once.

Absalom Tuimavave shot his sister in the pelvis. Seu Tuimavavewas taken to Stanford Medical Center for treatment and is expectedto survive, although her exact condition at Stanford remainsunclear.

Fifita apparently was a member of the Tongan congregation at theFirst United Methodist Church in Palo Alto and had been living withrelatives in East Palo Alto while her parents remained in Tonga. Agraduate of Woodside High School, she reportedly had aspirations toattain a nursing degree.

Fifita was a "cousin" (a term of endearment in their friendship)of 16-year-old Maikeli Iongi, who was killed during a confrontationin East Palo Alto involving two Menlo Park police officers and asheriff's sergeant Dec. 22.

Iongi died near Alberni Street and Westminster Avenue after heallegedly fired at the officers, who were chasing him and firedback. The officers were pursuing him and Kalipeni Pahulu, 18, onsuspicion of an armed robbery and shooting of a man in the 900 blockof Newberry Street.

The same night, a pregnant woman and her husband were shot duringa home invasion robbery in the 1800 block of West Bayshore Road. Thewoman, 23, was shot in the abdomen and leg and the man, 29, was shotin the throat. Both are expected to survive and there are nosuspects yet in that case.

On Dec. 20, John Farmer, 56, the owner of Doctor Sports Bar andGrill on University Avenue, was found shot dead in the chest at hisrestaurant.

Two hours later, Farmer's nephew and another 17-year-old boy werefound in Menlo Park suffering from nonfatal gunshot wounds, theapparent victims of a drive-by shooting in East Palo Alto nearNewbridge Street and Willow Road.

Police still have no suspects in either incident.

Despite the recent spate of crimes, killings in East Palo Alto --with seven in 2006 -- are still much lower than in previous years.In 2005, the 2.5-square mile city saw 15 homicides. In 1992, whenEast Palo Alto was dubbed the country's "murder capital," there were42 dead. Alipio said this is the lowest rate they've seen since2001.

"It's been a very busy two weeks, but, again, the chief just setthe department's goals to reduce homicides by 60 percent and we metthat," Alipio said.

Still, with two fatal incidents involving teens with guns, thelarger question of how and why they are getting the weapons begsanswering. Alipio said he expects the department will hold anothercommunity meeting following Fifita's murder. One was held last weekafter Iongi's death.

James Harris, the director of operations for Boys and Girls Clubsof the Peninsula, said he plans to participate to help formulatesolutions. He speculated youth more easily may find and be inclinedto use guns when they are surrounded by generations of relativesinvolved in crime.

"They're very familiar with this and understand how it works andknow how to get a hold of these things," Harris said. "The kids knowmore about this just based upon the fact that the families have beeninvolved in this. It's just easy for them."

Staff writer Rebekah Gordon can be reached at (650) 306-2428 orrgordon@sanmateocountytimes.com.

One dead, brother charged in killing

EAST PALO ALTO -- Two young men were arrested Monday night inconnection with an argument gone awry that killed one young womanand left another injured from a shotgun allegedly fired by her ownbrother.

Police say they hope this tragic tale, which saw two men shootingthe women they intended to protect, will be the final chapter in aspate of violence during the last two weeks that has seen threekilled and six injured from gunfire.

A 17-year-old East Palo Alto boy and Absalom Tuimavave, 18, alsoof East Palo Alto, were arrested on suspicion of murder inconnection with the death of 19-year-old Melevea Fifita of East PaloAlto and one count each of attempted murder in the shooting of 21-year-old Seu Tuimavave of San Francisco.

According to East Palo Alto police, Absalom and Seu Tuimavave aresiblings.

The 17-year-old is being held at the county's Youth ServicesCenter; his name is not being released because he is a juvenile.Absalom Tuimavave is being held at San Mateo County jail.

Charges likely will be filed today and the two likely will bearraigned this afternoon, Chief Deputy District Attorney SteveWagstaffe said. He said the 17-year-old likely will be charged as anadult.

East Palo Alto police Lt. Tom Alipio said that Fifita and SeuTuimavave began arguing in the 2700 block of Fordham Street, nearCostano Elementary school, around 10:30 p.m.Friday.

The fight escalated between the two girls, Alipio said, andAbsalom Tuimavave arrived to back his sister, and the 17-year-oldboy arrived to back Fifita.

The 17-year-old pulled out a pistol and fired shots at AbsalomTuimavave, Alipio said. In response, Absalom Tuimavave pulled out ashotgun and fired at the 17-year-old boy.

In the crossfire, the 17-year-old boy fatally injured Fifita.Alipio said he could not comment on where or how many times she wasshot, although previous reports have said she was shot in the chestmore than once.

Absalom Tuimavave shot his sister in the pelvis. Seu Tuimavavewas taken to Stanford Medical Center for treatment and is expectedto survive, although her exact condition at Stanford remainsunclear.

Fifita apparently was a member of the Tongan congregation at theFirst United Methodist Church in Palo Alto and had been living withrelatives in East Palo Alto while her parents remained in Tonga. Agraduate of Woodside High School, she reportedly had aspirations toattain a nursing degree.

Fifita was a "cousin" (a term of endearment in their friendship)of 16-year-old Maikeli Iongi, who was killed during a confrontationin East Palo Alto involving two Menlo Park police officers and asheriff's sergeant Dec. 22.

Iongi died near Alberni Street and Westminster Avenue after heallegedly fired at the officers, who were chasing him and firedback. The officers were pursuing him and Kalipeni Pahulu, 18, onsuspicion of an armed robbery and shooting of a man in the 900 blockof Newberry Street.

The same night, a pregnant woman and her husband were shot duringa home invasion robbery in the 1800 block of West Bayshore Road. Thewoman, 23, was shot in the abdomen and leg and the man, 29, was shotin the throat. Both are expected to survive and there are nosuspects yet in that case.

On Dec. 20, John Farmer, 56, the owner of Doctor Sports Bar andGrill on University Avenue, was found shot dead in the chest at hisrestaurant.

Two hours later, Farmer's nephew and another 17-year-old boy werefound in Menlo Park suffering from nonfatal gunshot wounds, theapparent victims of a drive-by shooting in East Palo Alto nearNewbridge Street and Willow Road.

Police still have no suspects in either incident.

Despite the recent spate of crimes, killings in East Palo Alto --with seven in 2006 -- are still much lower than in previous years.In 2005, the 2.5-square mile city saw 15 homicides. In 1992, whenEast Palo Alto was dubbed the country's "murder capital," there were42 dead. Alipio said this is the lowest rate they've seen since2001.

"It's been a very busy two weeks, but, again, the chief just setthe department's goals to reduce homicides by 60 percent and we metthat," Alipio said.

Still, with two fatal incidents involving teens with guns, thelarger question of how and why they are getting the weapons begsanswering. Alipio said he expects the department will hold anothercommunity meeting following Fifita's murder. One was held last weekafter Iongi's death.

James Harris, the director of operations for Boys and Girls Clubsof the Peninsula, said he plans to participate to help formulatesolutions. He speculated youth more easily may find and be inclinedto use guns when they are surrounded by generations of relativesinvolved in crime.

"They're very familiar with this and understand how it works andknow how to get a hold of these things," Harris said. "The kids knowmore about this just based upon the fact that the families have beeninvolved in this. It's just easy for them."

Staff writer Rebekah Gordon can be reached at (650) 306-2428 orrgordon@sanmateocountytimes.com.