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Summarized by Kent Larsen
LDS Grandfather Who Shot Teen Charged With Murder
Los Angeles Times 11Feb00 D2
By Louise Roug: Special to The Times
BUENA PARK, CALIFORNIA -- LDS grandfather Pete Tavita Solomona, 47, has
been charged with murder and will be arraigned on February 22nd.
Solomona, who shot a popular 17-year-old after he and his friends stole
a plastic Halloween pumpkin from his yard, claims the shooting was
accidental and will plead not guilty.
As previously reported on Mormon News, [see
http://www.mormonstoday.com/991024/P2Solomona01.shtml
and
http://www.mormonstoday.com/991226/D2Solomona01.shtml]
Three teenagers claim they mistook Solomona's house for the home of a
friend on the evening of October 18th and stole a two and one-half foot
high plastic pumpkin from his yard as a prank. When they returned later
in the evening Solomona confronted them with a loaded .357 magnum, and
he says the gun accidentally discharged, killing 17-year-old Brandon
Ketsdever.
The case has gained regional and national attention and re-ignited debate
on gun control. Neighbors generally considered Solomona a dedicated
family man and active member of his local LDS church.
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