Martinez, California – On May 18th, a Contra Costa County jury convicted a Hayward man of attempted murder with premeditation, shooting at an occupied vehicle, reckless evasion, and being a felon in possession of a firearm — along with firearm enhancements for personally using a firearm.
The convicted man, 26-year-old Tanginoa Pahulu Tangi, attacked a victim in Oakley on August 27, 2025. Evidence at trial showed that Tangi drove from Alameda County to Oakley and waited approximately three hours outside the victim’s home. When the victim arrived, Tangi approached the vehicle and fired 17 shots at close range. The victim survived. Tangi then fled the scene and disposed of the firearm. Minutes later, a Contra Costa County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull Tangi over, but Tangi refused to yield, leading officers on an 11-mile high-speed chase before law enforcement apprehended him.
The District Attorney’s Community Violence Reduction Unit prosecuted the case. District Attorney Diana Becton said, “This conviction reflects the outstanding work of our entire team, and we are grateful to everyone who helped bring justice for the victim in this case.”
Tangi’s violent conduct extends beyond the United States. Authorities in New Zealand currently want him for the murder of a courier in Auckland.
The court will schedule a sentencing hearing for the Contra Costa County offenses at a future date at the Richard E. Arnason Justice Center in Pittsburg.
May 20: Oakley Police Statement on Incident
On August 27, 2025, the City of Oakley reported on a shooting that occurred in the 4800 block of Trenton Street, at approximately 3:15AM.
In that case, a victim was shot several times after parking his vehicle on the driveway of his girlfriend’s home. Oakley officers provided life saving care to the victim and began providing information via police radio of the getaway vehicle of the suspect. Deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect vehicle in Knightsen and the suspect led them on a pursuit through Knightsen and Brentwood and ultimately ended up in Antioch, where the Antioch Police Department set up spike strips to disable the suspect vehicle.
The driver was then arrested and taken into custody and identified as Tanginoa Tangi (26, Hayward).
After Tangi’s arrest, Oakley Detectives Dombrouski, Gill and Pistello worked tirelessly to determine the motive and the actions of Tangi leading up to the shooting. Through collaborative investigative efforts with other law enforcement agencies, Oakley detectives were able to backtrack Tangi’s movements from Oakley to Alameda County. Detectives also determined Tangi waited for the victim to show up at his girlfriend’s house on Trenton Street for more than three hours before the shooting occurred. Oakley detectives also learned Tangi was an international person of interest in other crimes and worked with law enforcement agencies in New Zealand to learn more about Tangi. They discovered Tangi was wanted for a homicide in that country.
Oakley detectives were able to present enough information to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for filing and prosecution purposes.
On May 18, 2026, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office successfully tried Tangi for various crimes associated with the shooting in Oakley on August 27, 2025 and a jury found Tangi guilty of all crimes he was charged with, to include attempted homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm, fleeing peace officers, along with several special enhancements. Tangi will be sentenced for these crimes at a later date.
Chief Beard said “This was a very violent act that represented a significant threat to not only the victim, but also to all of the nearby neighbors on Trenton Street on that very early morning. Throughout this case, our Detectives and Special Service Team Officers worked very hard and we received assistance from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Antioch Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. It is very clear to me that Mr. Tangi is a dangerous person and I am grateful the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office tried the case in the way they did. This case is indicative that you never know who is coming into your neighborhood at night, so families should take precautions for themselves and their personal security. This event is also evidence that the presence of strong police forces that work together cohesively can make all the difference; I am proud to be part of the cohesive nature of the law enforcement agencies in East Contra Costa County. I hope the victim in this case continues to heal from his injuries. Stay safe, Oakley.”
Related
- Aug 2025 – Update: Oakley Police Seek Community Video in Shooting Case
- Aug 2025 – Oakley Police Investigating Early Morning Shooting on Trenton St.
