A lengthy police investigation resulted today in the arrests of two men — one in North Carolina and the other in Hawaii — in connection with an allegedly premediated, execution-style shooting in San Mateo in October 2020 that killed Ueta Savelio Muasiki Jr. and injured Muasiki’s 2-year-old son, who suffered a gunshot wound to his face, according to police.
John “Talia” Passi, 29, of San Mateo and Charlotte, was arrested this morning in Charlotte, NC, while Isileli Mahe, 30, of Oakland and Honolulu, was arrested in Honolulu, HI, police said. Both suspects are set to be extradited to San Mateo County.
At about 9:40 a.m. Oct. 30, 2020, Muasika was shot several times after being ambused in the driverway of his home in the 1600 block of Eleanor Drive, police said. Muasika died at the scene while his toddler son was transported to a local trauma center. The child has since recovered from his injuries, police said.
A spate of shootings in San Mateo connected to the homicide occurred in ensuing days. At the time, police received reports of civilians closing streets and shining flashlights into occupied cars due to the tensions, police said.
Meanwhile, police detectives embarked upon an 18-month investigation that extended to multiple states and eventually led police to Paasi’s home in North Carolina. This morning, multiple law enforcement agencies participated in serving a search warrant at Paasi’s home, located in the 4700 block of Abendago Road in Charlotte, police said.
Also this morning, Mahe was arrested on a warrant at his home in the 2400 block of Date Street in Honolulu.
Further details about the investigation were not released. Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
Photos courtesy of the San Mateo Police Department
