honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 4:20 p.m., Monday, December 16, 2002

Two arrested in shooting death of Waipahu man

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu police early today arrested a 24-year-old man at his Kalihi residence on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with last night's shooting death of a Waipahu man between Lumiaina and Waipio Uka streets.

The medical examiner's office today identified the dead man as Eugene Rios, 31.

Rios was reportedly shot once in the neck at 8:20 p.m. during a confrontation stemming from a traffic incident. He went into cardiac arrest while being attended to by emergency personnel and was taken to St. Francis-West Medical Center, where he died. Witnesses provided police with information about the suspect vehicle.

The man arrested today is the suspected gunman, police said. He was a front-seat passenger in the car.

Police last night arrested the driver of the suspect car last night. The 21-year-old man was apprehended at this Makakilo residence on suspicion of second-degree murder at 10 p.m. No other suspects are at large, police said.

With the swift arrests of the shooting suspects, HPD's homicide unit has resolved 21 of O'ahu's 24 murder cases this year. Since the year 2000, Honolulu police have solved 44 of 46 murder cases.

The 93 percent closing rate ranks near the top nationally for cities comparable in size to Honolulu, homicide Lt. Bill Kato said.

The three unresolved cases in 2002 are:

• Gabriel William Chaney, 28. His body was discovered April 9 at Ala Moana Beach Park.

• Taaviliga Panapa, 61. His body was found May 20 along Round Top Drive.

• Eteuati "Eddie" Salevao, 23. Fatally stabbed during an Aug. 18 brawl at Laniakea beach.

The two other unsolved murder cases since 2000 are the July 16, 2000 slaying of 67-year-old Kobi Lewis at her Makaha home by an apparent intruder, and the Jan. 1, 2001 death of Lillian Herring, who was killed in a fire at her Palolo home started by an aerial fireworks rocket.