Posted on: Wednesday, July 25, 2001

Police say man threatened wife, set himself on fire

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 46-year-old Wai'anae man was charged yesterday by police who said he threatened his wife with a loaded rifle, shot up his house and set himself on fire.

Vance Apolo was charged with two counts of terroristic threatening, and one count each of attempted assault and abuse of a household member. He was being held on $75,000 bail.

Police said Apolo and his 40-year-old wife agreed to a divorce in January, but they said they would continue living together until the divorce was final. On May 29, however, police said Apolo's wife was awaken early in the morning with a loaded rifle pointed at her.

Police said Apolo told her he was going to kill her and then kill himself. They struggled and police said Apolo fired his rifle at the ceiling.

The woman suffered minor bruises during the struggle, but managed to flee with the couple's two children. Police said the couple worked out their differences and moved back together a day later.

On June 8, however, police said Apolo, angry about a phone call his wife got from her sister, stormed into his wife's bedroom and ordered her to leave. Police said she attempted to flee, but he stopped her.

Police said Apolo then went into the bathroom, doused himself with alcohol and set himself on fire. He then pulled his wife to him and said they were both going to burn to death, police said.

The woman managed to escape with minor burns to her face. Apolo suffered serious burns and was taken to Straub Hospital.

Police said Apolo was released yesterday. He was then arrested and charged in connection with the two incidents.