Body found in Kane'ohe identified

By Allison Schaefers
Advertiser Staff Writer

Investigators have identified the body of a man that washed ashore Saturday morning on Coconut Island in Kane'ohe Bay, but they haven't determined a cause of death.

Sgt. David Xiong was last seen May 13. His body was found Saturday.

Xiong, a communications specialist, had been shot at least two or possibly three times in the head and maybe once or twice in the arm, police said.

A native of Macomb, Mich., Xiong was a reservist who was activated in January in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He served as a military police officer from January until November and was serving as a communications specialist at Headquarters Battalion at the time of his death, said Gunnery Sgt. Rhys A. Evans, of the Marine Corps Base Hawai'i public affairs office.

Xiong had been reported absent without leave on Wednesday when he failed to show up for work, Evans said.

Xiong's body was discovered by island security officers.

At the time of his death, Xiong was wearing a gray T-shirt, white knee-length shorts, a black-leather belt and black Vans sandals.

Police estimate the body may have been in the water two or three days. Pinpointing a time of death will be a key factor for Honolulu Police Department homicide detectives, who are being assisted by Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents.

Xiong was last seen at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 near the 7-Day Store on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, at Kane'ohe. He was wearing a camouflage utility uniform, police said.

Anyone with information about Xiong's whereabouts following his last appearance, may contact Detective James Anderson at 529-3356 or call to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

CrimeStoppers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that results in the arrest of a wanted person or the solving of the case.