Suspect in teen's death faces additional charges

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 20-year-old man charged in a fatal shooting of his 17-year-old friend has been charged with three more offenses, including growing 27 marijuana plants at his Waipio Acres apartment.

Theft and drug counts were added to charges filed against Jared Lee Williams yesterday.

Police earlier had charged Williams with manslaughter and the use of a firearm in commission of felony in connection with Wednesday's fatal shooting of Robert Rhoda Jr. Williams' total bail was set at $150,000.

Williams made his initial appearance in District Court yesterday and will have his preliminary hearing tomorrow.

Dean Yamashiro, chief deputy of the state Public Defender's Office, said the office received the case yesterday and it's too early to comment on a defense for Williams.

Police searched Williams' rented Waikalani Woodlands apartment Thursday and found 27 potted marijuana plants, approximately 5 to 11 inches tall, on the rear balcony of 95-257 Waikalani Drive B603, according to a police affidavit.

During an interview by homicide detectives Anderson Hee and Michael Tsuda, Williams confessed that he grew the marijuana plants for personal use, the affidavit said.

The theft and burglary charges stemmed from what police said was Williams' possession of a stolen handgun at the time of the shooting. The gun was stolen from an apartment at Waikalani Woodlands, police said.

At 4:34 p.m. Wednesday, police responding to a call found Rhoda, shot in the chest, in Williams' apartment. Rhoda died at Wahiawa General Hospital at 5:35 p.m.

Honolulu Police Homicide Lt. Bill Kato said two other people were inside the apartment with Rhoda and Williams at the time of the shooting.

According to a police affidavit, Vincent Oliveria and Angel Bonilla provided written statements identifying Williams as the person who shot Rhoda once in the chest with a handgun.