(L.A.) Va’Afatu Mativa, 18, Died From a Head Shot
Case Number: 2024-13466
Los Angeles County is reporting the death of an 18-year-old Samoan male that occurred on a street in Carson.
The coroner’s office identified the young man as Va’Afatu Mativa.
Manner of Death: Homicide
Cause of Death: Gunshot Wound of Head
RIP VA’AFATU MATIVA (September 6, 2005 – August 24, 2024)
Formal pronouncement of death was made on Saturday at 11:50 p.m.
The incident happened at around 11:35 p.m. in the 100 block of West 234th Street and also involved the shooting death of another man.
Raymond Maose, 22, was arrested in connection with the shooting, which is presumed to be gang-related.
The decedent was a nephew of Tenelle Christine Luafalemana, a singer-songwriter hailing from Carson who represented American Samoa in the American Song Contest in 2022.