Toko Tasi, a 45-year-old musician from Long Beach, California, was tragically killed on August 10, 2019. Known for his collaborations with bands like Sublime and Slightly Stoopid, Tasi was a beloved figure in the local music scene. On the night of his death, Tasi was attending a gathering with friends at the PBS Pub and Company beer garden. An argument broke out between Tasi and Thomas Neri Arellaga Jr., a childhood acquaintance.
The dispute escalated, leading to a second confrontation in the parking lot of the Hungry Horse Drive-In, where Arellaga fatally shot Tasi twice in the upper body. Emergency personnel pronounced Tasi dead at the scene.
Following the incident, Arellaga fled on foot and was later harbored by his presumed wife, Lorna Clemena. Both were arrested a few days later at a residence in Hesperia. Arellaga was charged with voluntary manslaughter and pleaded no contest as part of a plea agreement with the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. He was sentenced to 21 years in state prison. Clemena, who pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact, received a sentence of time served under GPS ankle monitoring.
The case highlighted the senseless nature of the violence that took Tasi's life, leaving a lasting impact on his community. Judge Laura Laesecke, who presided over the case, noted the profound pain expressed in victim impact statements, emphasizing the devastating loss felt by Tasi's family and friends. Despite the resolution of the case, the exact cause of the initial argument between Tasi and Arellaga remains unclear, adding a layer of mystery to the tragic event.
