​2 Fatal South Bay Safeway Shooting Suspects Arrested: Cops

SAN JOSÉ, CA — Two men were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a Safeway employee earlier this year, the San José Police Department said in a statement.

Tevita Tuakalau, an 18-year-old Utah resident, and Jacob Parrilla, 19 of San José, were identified as the suspects police said.

Tuakalau was arrested in Utah Aug. 11 and is currently in custody in the Salt Lake County Main Jail. He is awaiting extradition to Santa Clara County to face homicide charges, police said.

Parrilla was arrested was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on conspiracy charges Wednesday, according to police.

The shooting happened in the early morning hours of June 5, police said.

Officers at around 3:35 a.m. responding to the 1500 block of Hamilton Avenue on the report of a shooting located a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound, police said. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police did not say whether the shooting occurred inside or outside the Safeway store, located at 1530 Hamilton Ave.

Detectives during a subsequent probe identified Tuakalau and Parrilla as the suspects.

“With the assistance of the Salt Lake City Homicide and Apprehension Unit and the U.S. Marshal Service, suspect Tuakalau was located and arrested in Salt Lake County, Utah on August 11, 2022.”
This homicide was the South Bay city's 14th of 2022.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Valosek #4245 of the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit via e-mail at 4245@sanjoseca.gov or call 408-277-5283.

Crime tips can also be submitted anonymously by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP or to the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers here.
Anyone who submits information that leads to an arrest is eligible for a cash reward from Program.

— Bay City News contributed to this report