Vaiola Taufalele Vaipulu, a 60-year-old Tongan woman, was tragically shot and killed on August 2, 2015, in Long Beach, California. The incident occurred in the early morning hours at her residence on the 6700 block of Olive Avenue. Initially, the death was reported as a natural one when her husband found her choking and called 911. Emergency responders arrived and pronounced her dead at the scene.
However, upon further examination, the coroner discovered a gunshot wound on her left arm, leading to the involvement of Long Beach Police detectives. The investigation revealed that Vaipulu had been shot in the chest, and her death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation quickly led to the arrest of Patrick Fereti Mose, a 25-year-old resident of Long Beach. Mose was apprehended on August 17, 2015, after detectives linked him to the crime through surveillance footage that captured a vehicle associated with the shooting. Mose was charged with one count of murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was held in Long Beach City Jail on a $1 million bail and was scheduled for arraignment at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Long Beach.
The motive behind the killing remains unclear, and detectives have not disclosed whether Vaipulu knew Mose. The case has been described as not appearing to be a random act, suggesting that there may have been some connection or reason behind the tragic event. The Long Beach Police Department has urged anyone with information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
