Posted at 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 8, 2001
Gunman shoots at Ala Moana nightclub, flees
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
A gunman driving a stolen car fired shots outside an Ala Moana nightclub and KHON-TV headquarters before he crashed into a light pole and ran off this morning in Ala Moana.
Police said the gunman was still on the loose this morning, possibly still armed with the handgun he fired in front of several witnesses, including a KHON-TV producer who was outside Piikoi Street headquarters when the gunman drove by and fired shots into the air.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
No one was hurt in the shootings that happened just before 4 a.m., police said.
"We just heard four shots," said KHON-TV producer Robyn Nishi, who was inside working. "He wasn't targeting anything. He was just firing rounds into the air."
Police closed three Ala Moana streets for more than two hours to investigate the three scenes: Venus Nite Club, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., KHON-TV, 88 Piikoi St., and the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard and Pensacola Street.
"It sounded like firecrackers," said Brian Potts, who was driving makai on Piikoi Street when he heard shots. "Lucky he didn't face the gun toward us."
According to police, witnesses spotted the gunman as he drove up in a grey Toyota Corolla outside the Venus Nite Club. The man yelled something and fired one shot into the air before fleeing.
"We don't know why he was agitated," said Honolulu Police Department Det. Dave Furtado. "He just started popping off rounds."
The gunman then drove past KHON-TV, makai-bound on Piikoi Street, poked the handgun outside the driver's side window and fired shots into the air.
The gunman continued makai bound and turned right onto Ala Moana Boulevard. Eventually, the gunman drove on Kapiolani Boulevard where he crashed the car into a light pole. He fled the scene in an unknown direction.
Furtado said no gun has been recovered at the scenes and police wanted to process the car for evidence. Police said spent rounds from a small caliber handgun were found inside the car.
Meanwhile, as police investigated the crash scene, a motorist driving a white sedan collided with a black police car that was stopped on Kapiolani Boulevard. Both cars suffered minor damage and no one was injured.
Police examine the scene today after a gunman fired shots outside the Venus Nite Club, fled and crashed his car on Kapiolani Boulevard near Pensacola Street.
