(FOX40.COM) — A man who shot and killed a man at a Sacramento-area sports bar two years ago was convicted of first-degree murder on Wednesday, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Tose Asiata was dancing to music at Cheers Sports Bar in Natomas on Sept. 13, 2022, when he bumped into a man named Nicholas Sneed. Asiata then pulled a semi-automatic rifle from his backpack and shot Sneed multiple times, killing him.
The second victim was shot and has had lengthy hospital and nursing home stays, multiple surgeries and physical therapy as a result of his injuries, according to the DA’s office.
After shooting Sneed and another man, Axiata fled Sacramento, authorities said, and Sacramento police began investigating his whereabouts.
“Sacramento Police detectives identified Axiata through a review of witnesses and surveillance video of the shooting,” the DA’s office told X. “Detectives continued to work hard to locate Axiata and received word that he was in Hawaii.”
Asiata was arrested in Hawaii and extradited to California to stand trial on charges including first-degree murder and assault with a semi-automatic rifle.
Asiata’s sentencing is scheduled for July 12. He faces a maximum sentence of 72 years to life in prison for his crimes.
