A Long Beach man accused of gunning down a beloved local musician more than four years ago has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter, according to court records.
Thomas Neri Arellaga Jr., 47, pleaded no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter Monday in Long Beach Superior Court in connection to the death of 45-year-old Tasa Malaki, also known as Toko Tasi, who was shot outside a bar at West Willow Street and Eucalyptus Avenue just before midnight on Aug. 10, 2019.
Lorna Santos Clemena, 47, who was also arrested in connection to Tasi’s killing, pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact with knowledge of the crime, court records show.
Both are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 10. Arellaga faces a maximum of 21 years in prison, and Clemena faces a maximum of one year, according to a spokesperson with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who did not immediately answer whether the two pleaded no contest as part of a negotiated agreement. Records show Arellaga previously faced one count of murder in the case.
The night of the shooting, an argument broke out between Tasi and Arellaga outside the PBS Pub and Company, which escalated into the shooting, authorities said.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Tasi suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arellaga fled the scene on foot but was later arrested, along with Clemena, at a home in Hesperia. At the time, police said Clemena was aware of the shooting and hid evidence in an attempt to protect Arellaga.
Born in Hawaii, Tasi grew up in Long Beach and collaborated with the bands Sublime and Slightly Stoopid. He was known for his melodic singing voice and at one point was signed to the Long Beach-based Skunk Records.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information on Arellaga and Clemena’s potential sentences.