Violence in the Tongan community on the peninsula...
r.i.p Maikeli Iongi 1990-2006
EAST PALO ALTO — Less than a week after 16-year-old Maikeli Iongi was fatally shot by police, the city of East Palo Alto is taking steps to help the community deal with the teen's death.
Iongi died 11:20 p.m. Friday near Alberni Street and Westminster Avenue after he allegedly fired shots at a Menlo Park police officer and a San Mateo County sheriff's sergeant, who were chasing him and fired back.
Although the East Palo Alto Police Department was not involved in the shooting, it is concerned about its impact on the community. An enormous memorial on Alberni Street, adorned with pictures of the teen, candles and scribbled notes from people saying things like "I miss you" and "I love you," began to materialize Wednesday.
"It's a very tragic situation for both sides," Mayor David Woods said. "Although it did not involve an East Palo Alto police officer, it happened in our boundaries, and it's very tragic."
Woods said he, along with members of the Police Department, will hold a community meeting on the shooting at 5 p.m. today in the City Council's chambers at 2415 University Ave.
"We must look at the root of the problem, not the fact that it was a police-involved shooting," Woods said. "It's not a Pacific Islander thing. It's not a Tongan thing. It's a community thing."
The officers were chasing Iongi and his cousin, Kalipeni Pahulu, 18, whom police believed were suspects in an earlier armed robbery and shooting on the 900 block of East Palo Alto's Newbridge Street. East Palo Alto Police Lt. Tom Alipio said two men, believed to be Iongi and Pahulu, shot another man in the back and neck and tried to steal his car. Alipio said the officers shot Iongi, who is not a known gang member, after he fired two shots at them.
San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said that according to preliminary information from investigators handling the case, the officers were justified in shooting Iongi. "If an officer discharges his weapon because he's being fired upon, that's self-defense," Wagstaffe said. "An officer that's being fired on has a right to respond with lethal force." He said the district attorney's office has until Jan. 30, the date of Pahulu's arraignment, to decide if it wants to file charges against Pahulu, who has been released on $100,000 bail.
While police continue to investigate the shooting, Iongi's friends and family members have been gathering near the growing memorial.
"He wanted to play football and be a quarterback next year at Carlmont High School," said Iongi's cousin Siko Laho, 21, of East Palo Alto. "He went to church at Palo Alto First United Methodist."
Otherwise, "he liked to kick it with the boys," Laho added.
Friend Nam Kale, 18, also of East Palo Alto, said the small-framed Iongi "was funny and always cracked jokes. He was sweet and always showed me respect, saying 'Hi' and giving me a hug."
r.i.p Maikeli Iongi 1990-2006
EAST PALO ALTO — Less than a week after 16-year-old Maikeli Iongi was fatally shot by police, the city of East Palo Alto is taking steps to help the community deal with the teen's death.
Iongi died 11:20 p.m. Friday near Alberni Street and Westminster Avenue after he allegedly fired shots at a Menlo Park police officer and a San Mateo County sheriff's sergeant, who were chasing him and fired back.
Although the East Palo Alto Police Department was not involved in the shooting, it is concerned about its impact on the community. An enormous memorial on Alberni Street, adorned with pictures of the teen, candles and scribbled notes from people saying things like "I miss you" and "I love you," began to materialize Wednesday.
"It's a very tragic situation for both sides," Mayor David Woods said. "Although it did not involve an East Palo Alto police officer, it happened in our boundaries, and it's very tragic."
Woods said he, along with members of the Police Department, will hold a community meeting on the shooting at 5 p.m. today in the City Council's chambers at 2415 University Ave.
"We must look at the root of the problem, not the fact that it was a police-involved shooting," Woods said. "It's not a Pacific Islander thing. It's not a Tongan thing. It's a community thing."
The officers were chasing Iongi and his cousin, Kalipeni Pahulu, 18, whom police believed were suspects in an earlier armed robbery and shooting on the 900 block of East Palo Alto's Newbridge Street. East Palo Alto Police Lt. Tom Alipio said two men, believed to be Iongi and Pahulu, shot another man in the back and neck and tried to steal his car. Alipio said the officers shot Iongi, who is not a known gang member, after he fired two shots at them.
San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said that according to preliminary information from investigators handling the case, the officers were justified in shooting Iongi. "If an officer discharges his weapon because he's being fired upon, that's self-defense," Wagstaffe said. "An officer that's being fired on has a right to respond with lethal force." He said the district attorney's office has until Jan. 30, the date of Pahulu's arraignment, to decide if it wants to file charges against Pahulu, who has been released on $100,000 bail.
While police continue to investigate the shooting, Iongi's friends and family members have been gathering near the growing memorial.
"He wanted to play football and be a quarterback next year at Carlmont High School," said Iongi's cousin Siko Laho, 21, of East Palo Alto. "He went to church at Palo Alto First United Methodist."
Otherwise, "he liked to kick it with the boys," Laho added.
Friend Nam Kale, 18, also of East Palo Alto, said the small-framed Iongi "was funny and always cracked jokes. He was sweet and always showed me respect, saying 'Hi' and giving me a hug."
