A 36-year-old Newark man has been charged with residential burglary and car theft for allegedly stealing from the home of the widow of a deceased gunman involved in a shootout with South San Francisco police officers, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
The man, Richard Vaka, was allegedly reported to have been moving items between the house and the car by neighbors May 2 and took around $15,000 worth of goods from the home, according to the DA’s Office.
The widow of deceased gunman Brian Montana had left town after the shooting of her husband, the DA’s Office said, and came home to find her house burglarized and her car stolen.
Montana was shot and killed by police officers after allegedly firing at them after they responded to a call regarding a neighbor dispute in the Rancho Buri Buri neighborhood April 28.
According to the DA’s Office, a credit card stolen in the burglary of the Montana widow’s home was used at a casino and gas station later in the day May 2. Vela and another defendant, 43-year-old Fremont resident DeOcampo Desumala, were allegedly stopped in the stolen car of the widow four days later.
A search warrant of Vaka’s phone allegedly revealed Google searches of news stories on the shooting, as well as the property’s address.
Vaka has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and Desumala remains at large with a $75,000 warrant out for his arrest.
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