Friend blames police for fatal shootout

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A friend who was with Levi Esperas when he was gunned down after he shot and wounded two police officers along the H-2 Freeway last month claims the officers provoked Esperas into shooting.

Levi Esperas, left, was killed April 17 in a shootout with police on the H-2 Freeway. His friend, Samuel Hao, claims Esperas tried to surrender but was provoked into shooting at police. Advertiser library photos

Officers Robert Steiner and Aaron Bernal were hit by the blast and are recovering from their wounds. Police have said the officers fired at least 10 shots.

Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said the case is still under investigation. She declined to comment on the accusations by Esperas' friend, Samuel Hao.

The shootout occurred on the H-2 Freeway after police attempted to stop a stolen van that had been speeding and weaving on H-1.

During the chase, the van got stuck on a concrete median while trying to make a U-turn, and all but one of the four passengers attempted to flee.

Hao was the only person who stayed in the van. He said yesterday that he tried to run but couldn't get the van's door to open.

Jesse Ani, 28, and Esperas' wife, Bernadette La'a, 28, also known as Bernadette O'ili, were with Esperas at the time of the shooting and have been charged with auto theft unrelated to the H-2 shooting, according to police. They remain in custody.

Hao was arrested, but was released without charges.

Hao said he witnessed what happened in the moments that led to the shootout between Esperas and police.

He acknowledged that Esperas fired first, but said police could have prevented Esperas from getting hold of the shotgun used to shoot the officers.

Hao said La'a had the shotgun and was caught by police as she attempted to flee. Seeing this, Esperas stopped running and came back to his wife, Hao said.

As Esperas approached the officer, whom Hao did not name, the officer let go of La'a and the shotgun and "attacked" Esperas, he said.

"Levi was surrendering," Hao said. "Levi was on his stomach already and his hands were behind his back, trying to give up, and the cop was still choking his neck and pushing his face down."

A struggle ensued and Esperas managed to get up, grab the shotgun and fire a shot, Hao said. He said two officers who were with La'a and Ani then turned and opened fire at Esperas.

After being hit three times, Esperas dropped the gun, but the officers continued to fire, Hao said.

Hao said he had known Esperas since the two were at Nanakuli High School. He described Esperas as "a quiet guy" who "did everything for his family."

But Hao said he knew that Esperas was involved in a ring of car thieves.

He said he didn't realize he was riding in a stolen van that day until Esperas took the wheel from Ani after they were spotted by police.

"I saw the other cars that Levi was taking, but I just thought this was like an auntie's van that they borrowed because compared to all the other cars that they were taking, the van was really ugly," he said.

Hao said he decided to speak publicly because he wants people to know that his friend was not the type of person who would try to kill a police officer.

"Everybody thinks we were out just for kill and stuff and that's totally not true," he said. "If the officer didn't provoke him to, he wouldn't have got shot. If he would have just handcuffed Levi, or let the other officers get Levi, he would have just arrested Bernadette and secured the firearm."

Hao lives in Nanakuli with his sister's family and he said he hopes to start a new life. Since the incident, however, he has not been in touch with any relatives of the three others in the van.

"I tried, but I guess nobody wants to talk to me," he said. "They probably think that I ratted somebody out and that's why I'm out so early."