UPDATE: Local Samoan man killed in Missouri
“All I want was to bring Jacob home, for now I want to focus on his funeral preparations, I don’t want to know the details of the investigation conducted by the police, just yet,” said heartbroken, Leiseau Vaito’alau Laumoli. Jacobsen, 27, of Leone and Vailoa was fatally shot in Independence, Missouri, on October 30, 2016 and to date the Independence Police Department has yet to arrest anyone in the homicide case.
Responding to Samoa News questions, Leiseau a former Deputy Police Commissioner said he was devastated when he heard what had happened to his son and from then, all he wanted was to bring him home to his grandmother and mother.
Fighting back his emotions, Leiseau said his eldest daughter who’s in the Navy is the one who is dealing directly with the Independence Police Department on the status of the investigation. According to FOX4 news, Jacobsen was shot and killed near E. 12th Terrace and S. Holke Road, early Sunday morning, October 30, 2016. Police said they responded to the area shortly before 2 a.m. and found Jacobsen with a gunshot wound.
“People who live on the block told FOX 4, two Halloween parties were going on when the shooting happened. They said people from both parties were mingling and getting along, but then something turned around for the worse.” One witness told FOX4 that she heard a bunch of commotion and shots. The witness who lived on the block said she was at one of the parties earlier in the evening and she left the party shortly after 1 a.m. to go home and go to bed. “I woke up and told the kids, get down on the floor, because everybody was jumping up and trying to look out of the windows,” she said.
In the meantime, the Independence Police are currently looking for a suspect by the name of Travon M. Williams, 21. Emails sent on the weekend directly to the Spokesperson for Independence Police Department were not answered as of press time.
Known to many as “Boost” Jacobsen is a graduate of Leone High School, his body will be flown home tonight.
Leiseau told Samoa News the support from his family is overwhelming and very comforting and it’s what’s keeping him together. “Our families flew to Missouri when the incident occurred, my brothers, nieces and nephews and it’s comforting to know that you have families who come together in the most difficult time. I wanted to bring him home to his mother and grandmother and as soon as everything was confirmed for him to be flown on Monday night’s flight, I came home to be with my wife, my other children and of course Jacob’s grandmother who are home.”
Regarding the investigation, and being in the law enforcement for more than 20 years, Leiseau said he understands that a homicide investigation’s process is lengthy and he reiterated the information on the investigation regarding his son’s death as revealed to his daughter. “It’s not like after the investigation he will come back to us, so all I want now is to lay him to rest.”
Describing his son, Leiseau said Jacob was fearless and was always the one who watched over his cousins and friends. “Ole ulavale olea kama o Jacob,” said Leiseau. Jacob is survived by his parents, Angela and Leiseau and his siblings and grandmother.
Samoa News extends our deepest condolences to the mourning family