One dead, two critically injured in Ha'ateiho shooting [1]
Monday, April 7, 2008 - 17:23. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 22:45.
A Ha'ateiho man in his 60's reportedly shot himself after shooting and wounding his wife and a young man in a drunken rage, early on Sunday morning April 6.
Nurses at Vaiola Hospital identified the man to be Naulala 'Eli and said that he was dead when brought to the hospital.
They confirmed there were two people injured, a young man from Ha'ateiho who has not been named, who was admitted to Vaiola Hospital after 1 am, and Naulala's wife, Mele in her 60's, who was admitted at about 2 am.
A nurse at the Vaiola Surgical Ward confirmed this evening, that the two victims were still alive but in critical conditions.
The Tonga Police have confirmed the shooting but could not release any detailed information.
Alcohol
Meanwhile, a neighbour of the couple at Ha'ateiho said the shooting incident took place around 1 to 2am on Sunday morning.
The neighbour understood that the first shooting incident took place in a drinking party at the tax allotment of the deceased at Ha'ateiho, where the young man was shot. Naulala then left for the nearby village of Pea, where his wife, Mele was staying with her sister. When he arrived, under the influence of alcohol, they had an argument and he shot her.
The neighbour said that Naulala then returned to Ha'ateiho and visited his daughter's home where he shot and killed himself.
It is understood that the weapon used was .22 rifle, and it was registered and owned by Naulala.