Man opens fire near Ala Moana club, TV station

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

A gunman in a stolen car fired shots yesterday outside an Ala Moana nightclub and KHON-TV station before crashing into a light pole and running away.

A man who fired several shots crashed this stolen car into a light pole at Kapi'olani and Pensacola yesterday. Richard Ambo •The Honolulu Advertiser

Police last night continued to search for the suspect, who they identified as a 30-year-old man. He was described as Filipino, 5-feet-7, 150 pounds with tattoos on his upper right arm and chest.

The gunman was still on the loose yesterday, possibly still armed with the handgun he fired in front of several witnesses, including a KHON producer who was outside the station's Pi'ikoi Street offices when the gunman drove by and fired shots up into the air.

"We just heard four shots," said another KHON producer, Robyn Nishi, who was working inside the station. "He wasn't targeting anything. He was just firing rounds into the air."

Police closed three streets for more than two hours to investigate at Venus Nite Club at 1349 Kapi'olani Blvd., KHON at 88 Pi'ikoi St., and the corner of Kapi'olani Boulevard and Pensacola Street.

Police say the gunman drove a gray Toyota Corolla to Venus Nite Club, yelled and fired one shot into the air before fleeing.

"We don't know why he was agitated," said Detective Dave Furtado. "He just started popping off rounds."

He then drove past KHON makai-bound on Pi'ikoi Street and fired into the air from the driver's side window. He continued makai and turned right onto Ala Moana, eventually ending up on Kapi'olani Boulevard, where he crashed into a light pole. Then he ran away.

Furtado said no gun has been found. Police said spent rounds from a small caliber handgun were found inside the car.

As police investigated the crash scene, a motorist in a white sedan hit a black police car stopped on Kapi'olani Boulevard. No one was hurt. Damage to the cars was minor.