Police identify, search for homicide suspect

Uatesoni Passi is said to have killed man at apartment

SAN JOSE >> Police said they have identified and are looking for a homicide suspect after a man was shot and killed in front of his wife and two children four months ago.

Uatesoni Joseph Paasi, 27, of San Jose, was identified by police as the main homicide suspect accused of killing Marco Antonio Santos, 33, of San Jose on June 4. Authorities said Santos was pronounced dead on the 4100 block of The Woods Drive and had at least one gunshot wound.

Santos was involved in a dispute in an apartment complex and was killed in front of his wife and two of his children, Assistant Chief of Police Paul Joseph said at a Tuesday news conference. The victim’s family said Santos died on his birthday. Santos’s four children are between the ages of 6 and 15.

“As long as this man is on the loose, another family could end up saddened and at a loss just like this family,” Joseph said. “Not only do we want to arrest him to make sure we bring justice to this case, we want to make sure no one else has to suffer the way the Santos family is suffering.”

The weapon involved in the shooting hasn’t been found and Paasi should be considered armed and dangerous, Joseph said. Police don’t know if the victim and suspect knew each other.

Passi fled the scene and has an arrest warrant for homicide, according to police. Passi is connected to the Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay and the San Diego area, as well as Tonga and Hawaii.

“My husband’s life was taken by this suspect,” said Sandra Santos, the victim’s wife of 16 years. “He left behind not only me but our children as well. We miss him very much and we want justice done for my husband.”

Santos was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. in 2006, according to his family. Santos lived in the Bay Area for around 15 years.

“Our best estimate is that the suspect is getting help from somebody,” said San Jose Police Public Information Officer Steve Aponte. “If seeing the family today changes one person’s mind, that’s a win for us and a win for the family and justice will be served.”

The death was the 28th homicide of the year investigated by San Jose police.

There have been 37 homicides in San Jose including the nine people killed in the VTA mass shooting, which was investigated by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information may contact the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide unit at 408-2775283. Crime tips can be submitted to Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers by calling the line at 408-947-STOP or svcrimestoppers.org. A cash reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.