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Requiem for a Heavyweight: The Death of Frank TanuvasaFormer East High star shot to deathPALM DESERT, CA - A 20-year-old former football star from East High School is dead – shot by a sheriff's deputy in Palm Desert, California, where he was going to college. The death of Frank Tanuvasa has stunned his friends and family, some of whom question the official version of events. Tanuvasa allegedly was fleeing the scene of a reported attempted burglary when he got into a physical confrontation with a deputy. The sheriff's department spokesman isn't saying if he was armed or why deputies believe Tanuvasa was involved in the incident outside of an apartment complex. It's a tragic end for a big young man who struggled to get out of Mountain View and make a name for himself in college football. Tanuvasa was a big offensive lineman, at 6 feet and 6 inches and nearly 400 pounds, perhaps the biggest football player to come out of Alaska. "Even though he's a big guy, he's got a big heart,” said Travis Dean, Tanuvasa’s uncle. “Lots of love. He loves his little brothers and sister.” Tanuvasa, who graduated from East High in 2009, got a football scholarship to College of the Desert in Palm Desert and dreamed of playing for a Division 1 NCAA school. "It was going good,” said friend Chris Aina. “I thought he was going to make it to D1 college. I thought he had his head on straight. I still think he had his head on straight." Mao Tosi, who heads the group AK Pride and tries to keep the youth of Anchorage on the straight and narrow, said Tanuvasa had long been at risk. "At risk in so many ways. One of them being minority. One of them was being low income. One of them being a Polynesian. Growing up in Mountain View. You can pick any excuse you want. But it still comes down to that he's not here any more and just those choices that were made during that time, and looking back to see if there are regrets on any folks' part." Tanuvasa’s teammates also were shocked at his death. "The whole team is down right now about this,” said wide receiver Joel Felix. “That was our number one. Whatever happened, it went out the wrong way." There is skepticism about the police version of the events. "Frank wasn't armed with anything,” Dean said. “It wasn't like him to break into people's houses and stuff." The band Roar and Represent (R&R) will hold a fund-raiser for Tanuvasa's family on March 3, at the VFW in Mountain View. "It’s where we invite all of our friends, everybody who knows Frank, to come out and donate, donate whatever you can and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the family," said Aina, a band member. "Within the Polynesian community, we are a tight group, and once the word was out, it really was shocking and it spread like wildfire,” Tosi said. Now the loss of a big kid is leaving a big hole in that community. |
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Friend of a friend said on Wednesday, Feb 13 at 12:47 PM
Man I heard nothing but bad things about him and that dude he was with rooming with I dont think that people should die this way but future for him or not in football he shouldnt have been trying to live that life at all. I was told but an old gangster that was killed one time he said "in this game you play...you pay" might be with jail might be with your life but you pay. My condolences to the family and for all you who see this just remember "you play...you pay"
113442832mac said on Wednesday, Sep 12 at 5:24 PM
james if you wanna talk about frank like that ill find you and ima kill you. that aint funny brah keep it up youll see.
101700515mac said on Tuesday, May 8 at 9:53 AM
THIS SUCKS HELLA BAD. BUT UCE YOU MAKE HISTORY, REST EZ SOLE.
90112946Val said on Saturday, Mar 17 at 12:01 PM
Remembering Frank today.
84783196Cousin In New Zealand said on Friday, Mar 2 at 5:24 PM
R.I.P BIG COUSIN, WE ALL LOVE AND MISS YOU xoxox
82876012concerned person said on Thursday, Mar 1 at 2:08 PM
The saddest part of all this is that a young mans life ended unecessarily early. My condolences go out to his family. I will keep you all in my prayers. Call it fate, karma, destiny, whatever you want. Had Frank not been there none of this would have happened. Sad Sad Sad
82742742Kristina said on Wednesday, Feb 29 at 9:17 PM
Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? This kid never got a chance to stand in front of a jury of his peers, because a Palm Springs cop shot a COD student. Again. For the third time over the course of a year. Usually I respect the decisions of police officers, but I am finding it near impossible to defend the decisions of the Palm Springs PD.
82666384Lavonne said on Tuesday, Feb 28 at 1:29 PM
It's funny how people who don't know what happen can call him a criminal. I would appreciate if you kept your negative comments to yourself. You were not there when it happen, and you also don’t know what his family is going through. NO ONE DESRVES TO DIE LIKE THAT. If you don’t have anything nice to say, then you should just keep your mouth closed. Because the blood that ran threw him is the same blood running threw me. That’s my family you heartless people are talking ill about.
82519762Sammy Sosa said on Tuesday, Feb 28 at 12:36 PM
Well look at the facts in the case and nothing else like his family, which all criminals have. He struggled with police cause he didn't want to ruin his record. This would have looked bad for his school. Anyways good work cops.
82513566Atamamao said on Tuesday, Feb 28 at 11:13 AM
HE WAS A WONDERFUL LOVING PERSON. FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO THINK KNOE WHAT HAPPEND TO HIM. HAVE NO SAY UNLESS THEY WERE THERE AT THE SCENE. POLICE HAVE NO RIGHT TO TAKE SOMEONES LIFE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A AUTHORITY TO CARRY A WEAPON. - i do agree with marie. people in the U.S tend to judge people before they knoe the facts. if you dont know the kid you have no say. he's parents raised him as a wonderfull loving man. all through his grade school years till now. he was loved by many and we as his family miss him dearly. in reality people dont love or care for someone just because, it takes trust and time to knoe a person. I LOVE AND MISS YOU BRO. may you rest in peace and love.
82503442UNKNOWN said on Tuesday, Feb 28 at 3:07 AM
SHUT DA HELL UP^^^
82457813Timmy Lee said on Monday, Feb 27 at 2:12 PM
I side with the police on this one. It doesn't matter if he went to college or not. Theirs plenty of criminals here in Alaska that have a serious felony as their first offense cause they never got caught b4. He did the crime and saved the taxpayers money.
82417693Marie said on Monday, Feb 27 at 2:04 PM
Don't jump to conclusion without knowing the facts. This was not a kid that do bad things. Not a lot of kids who play football make it to college and he did. I know his parents mostly his dad and they are not the kind that let their kids be bad,thats whats wrong with us Americans we judge first without knowing what the facts is. I was not there and can't say what happened but Something went wrong . My thoughts go out to his family....wrong for you to call him a criminal and you don't know the facts
82416864JAMES said on Friday, Feb 24 at 11:26 PM
HES A CRIMINAL. CRIMINALS DONT DESERVE RESPECT
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