Graffiti turns to murder: Woman shot, killed on First Avenue

An alleged confrontation over graffiti has left a 65-year-old woman dead and her grandson shot and wounded.

Thursday, at 8:45 p.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to 911 calls about shots fired on the 11900 block of First Avenue.

There they found Seutatia Tausili, 65, unresponsive and bleeding badly from a gunshot wound in her torso. Her grandson, Vaovasa Penu, 25, had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.

They were apparently shot after Penu attempted to stop several Hispanic males "tagging" a trash container on his property with graffiti. Penu and other family members approached the taggers and a fight ensued. During the melee, several gunshots were fired, striking Tausili and Penu.

In the course of their subsequent investigation, the High Desert Gang Team contacted Ricardo Real, 19, of Hesperia. The department's Homicide Detail questioned him about the incident and ultimately arrested him.

Tausili was taken to Desert Valley Hospital, but could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m. Penu was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Real is being charged with murder, and officials believe him to be the triggerman, but other suspects involved in the shooting are still being sought as of Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information about this death is asked contact Detective Rod Medley or Sergeant Tom Bradford at (909) 387-3589 or call the anonymous WE-TIP line at 1-800-782-7463.

Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at beau@hesperiastar.com.