Safeway worker shot to death in clash with shopper, CA cops say. Now two arrested
A Safeway employee was shot to death after a dispute with customers, California police said. Now two people have been arrested.
The employee died at the San Jose supermarket on June 5, police said at the time. Coworkers told news outlets the worker, identified as 24-year-old Manuel Huizar Cornejo, may have confronted someone stealing liquor before he was shot, McClatchy News reported.
Homicide detectives launched an investigation in June, and two suspects were identified.
Tevita Tuakalau, an 18-year-old from Utah, was arrested Aug. 11 on homicide charges, the San Jose Police Department said. A 19-year-old from San Jose was arrested Aug. 17 on conspiracy charges.
“I think it’s absolutely horrendous and awful, and he was a lovely young man,” co-worker Jaime Sterling told KNTV in June.
Police ask that anyone with information call 408-277-5283 or send an email to 4245@sanjoseca.gov.
This story was originally published August 19, 2022 at 11:35 AM with the headline "Safeway worker shot to death in clash with shopper, CA cops say. Now two arrested."