Three people were killed and two others injured Saturday night in a residential shooting in Hawaii that began with a neighborly dispute, according to police. The shooter also fatally shot a resident, who was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Witnesses reported a 58-year-old man used a front-loader to ram a family gathering into a home, then opened fire on people gathered in the carport, fatally shooting three women at a home in Waianae, about 30 miles west of downtown Honolulu, Honolulu police Detective Lt. Deena Tomes said at a news conference.
She said at a news conference that at some point, a 42-year-old man who lived in the home fatally shot the suspect with a handgun. A police spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a phone message or email seeking further details about why the resident was arrested.
The dead women were 34, 36 and 29, Tomes said. A 31-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were taken to the hospital in critical condition, she said.
The unidentified suspect was carrying four 55-gallon drums containing an unknown fuel in a front-loader, Thoemmes said. Witnesses reported he shot the drums, but police have not yet confirmed that, she said.
Police Chief Joe Logan said at a news conference that the shooting was the latest in several shootings in the area in recent weeks and that police were committed to combating gun violence. But he said Saturday’s shooting was not related to the previous incidents. He said it would be difficult for police to stop such targeted actions stemming from conflict unless someone steps in early.
“There have been a number of incidents over the past few months and weeks, but this incident is not related to any of those incidents. This incident was caused by a neighbor. So I want to reassure the public that this was not a random act, this was a targeted act,” Logan said.
HawaiiNewsNow reported that this incident preceded three shootings in Waianae in the span of about a week.
Logan previously said law enforcement resources in the area would be increased, the station reported.
“The Honolulu Police Department is growing with more resources in patrol and undercover,” Logan said. “We’re working with our federal partners to saturate those areas and patrol those areas with more numbers.”
