Utah Police Arrest California Man Suspected in Double Killing at Salt Lake City Church Parking Lot
Why It Matters
A brazen double killing at a church parking lot during a funeral has shaken the Salt Lake City community and raised serious questions about violent criminals with prior convictions operating across state lines. The suspect in the January shooting had previously served seven years in a California prison for assaulting someone with a semi-automatic firearm — yet allegedly opened fire again, this time in a crowd of grieving funeral attendees.
The arrest highlights the deadly consequences when individuals with violent criminal histories retain access to firearms, and underscores the challenges law enforcement faces when witnesses are reluctant to cooperate with investigators.
What Happened
Salt Lake City police announced Monday that they have arrested John Vea Uasike Jr., 32, of Elverta, California, in connection with a January 7 shooting at the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 660 N. Redwood Road in Salt Lake City.
The shooting occurred just after 7:30 p.m. while a funeral with between 150 and 200 attendees was underway inside the church. Two men — Sione Vatuvei, 38, of Glendale, and Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46 — were killed at the scene. Six other men were treated at local hospitals for injuries.
Charges against Uasike were filed under seal on April 9 in 3rd District Court while investigators located him in California. Those charges were made public Monday following his arrest. He faces two counts of murder and two counts of firing a gun causing serious injury, both first-degree felonies, along with second-degree felony charges of illegal discharge of a firearm and being a restricted person in possession of a firearm.
What Witnesses Described
According to charging documents, a witness seated in her vehicle observed a group of six or seven men surrounding another individual in the parking lot as an argument escalated. The man believed to be Uasike retrieved a firearm from the front passenger door of an SUV. Bystanders reportedly attempted to physically restrain him and prevent him from firing.
“The defendant fired one round into the air, which caused the crowd to duck,” charging documents state. “The defendant then fired a second round into the air, causing people to scatter.” He then moved around the SUV and began firing toward the church building and the funeral attendees.
A second gunman was also observed at the scene. One witness estimated that the second shooter fired approximately eight rounds in two volleys. Charging documents indicate both men continued firing until they ran out of ammunition.
Among those injured was a woman who suffered gunshot wounds to the face and lower back. A third witness, who had been returning to the church after getting food and tried to calm the situation down, was struck by a bullet in the back of the shoulder.
By the Numbers
- 2 people killed at the scene
- 6 additional men hospitalized with injuries
- 150–200 people attending the funeral inside the church at the time of the shooting
- 7 years previously served by Uasike in California prison for assault with a semi-automatic firearm
- 2 prior arrests made in January — Ezekiel Isaiah Tai, 22, and Ryan Daniel Toutai, 32 — on obstruction of justice charges
Zoom Out
The case draws attention to the issue of recidivism among violent offenders. Uasike’s prior California conviction for assaulting someone with a semi-automatic firearm legally prohibited him from possessing a firearm — yet he allegedly used one to kill two men and wound six others outside a house of worship. Cases like this renew debate over whether sentencing and parole structures adequately protect the public from repeat violent offenders. For a related case involving criminal sentencing, see this report on a Texas woman sentenced to six years in prison for mailing drug-soaked Bibles to inmates.
Investigators also noted that early progress in the case was hampered when witnesses declined to cooperate with detectives — a pattern seen increasingly in high-profile shooting investigations nationwide. Salt Lake City police stated the investigation remains active, with additional armed individuals from the incident still unidentified.
What’s Next
Uasike is now in custody and faces multiple first- and second-degree felony charges. Salt Lake City police say the investigation is ongoing and that they believe additional individuals who were armed during the incident have not yet been identified or charged. Prosecutors are expected to proceed with the case in 3rd District Court.
Authorities are continuing to appeal for witness cooperation as they work to hold all involved parties accountable. For another example of law enforcement pursuing accountability after a crime involving reckless behavior, see coverage of the case in which an Idaho pilot was convicted of flying drunk and sentenced to jail time.
About the Author
