Jaedah Tofaeono, a 16-year-old female described by her father as a "very loving girl," had a bright smile and a big heart. She enjoyed music and dancing and was preparing to start her senior year at Deer Valley High School in Antioch. Her father, James Tofaeono, recalled how his daughter embraced everyone she met with a smile and a huge hug, always making sure those around her were taken care of. Jaedah was part of a large, well-known family; her uncle is Solofa Fatu Jr., the WWE Hall of Fame wrestler known as Rikishi, a member of the famed Anoa‘i wrestling family. Jaedah and her immediate family had only recently moved to San Francisco’s Bayview district before her life was cut short.
On the early evening of Friday, July 30, 2021, Jaedah was outside with her family on the unit block of Bertha Lane, near Hudson Avenue. A neighbor saw her sitting on her skateboard just before gunshots rang out around 6:45 p.m.
In the chaos that followed, both Jaedah and her 45-year-old aunt were struck by gunfire. A neighbor heard Jaedah's father crying out, "They shot my daughter! They shot my daughter!" Both victims were rushed in a private vehicle to a local hospital. While her aunt was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and survived, Jaedah succumbed to her wounds despite the efforts of medical staff.
The San Francisco Police Department’s Homicide Detail launched an immediate investigation into the shooting. Investigators canvassed the neighborhood, seeking witnesses and reviewing footage from at least three surveillance cameras in the area. In the initial stages, police stated they did not know if the shooting was random, targeted, or a case of mistaken identity, and a motive has not been released. No suspects have been publicly identified or arrested in connection with the murder.
Less than a week after his daughter's death, James Tofaeono, standing with his wife Ponti on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, delivered a powerful message of forgiveness to the person responsible. "No hate, no grudges. We want you to know we forgive you," he said. "The only justice we are seeking is peace." He pleaded for no retaliation and urged the community to "stop the hate and heal through power and forgiveness." He spoke of the lessons he taught his children, to lead with love and be quick to forgive, values that he said his daughter exemplified in her short life.
The case remains an open and unsolved homicide. About a month after the shooting, the San Francisco Police Department announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Jaedah's murder. On the one-year anniversary of her death, in August 2022, the department renewed its public appeal for assistance, re-sharing the reward information and asking for anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward.
Investigators continue to seek tips from the public to bring closure to Jaedah's family. Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Francisco Police Department Homicide Detail at 1-415-553-9069. Anonymous tips can be provided to the SFPD 24-Hour Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or by texting a tip to TIP411 and beginning the message with "SFPD."
