Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

Attack victim in critical condition

A 21-year-old California man beaten by a group of men Saturday morning at Atkinson Drive and Kona Street was in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center, according to police. The man had been involved in a confrontation with the same group at a Kapi'olani Boulevard nightclub at 2 a.m., about 40 minutes before the street mugging occurred.

According to a witness, the man was punched and kicked until unconscious by four or five men, who fled in a blue Dodge PT Cruiser. Police are investigating the beating as an attempted murder.

Man faces charges in three robberies

Authorities are seeking to charge an 18-year-old man arrested yesterday at the front gate of Hickam Air Force Base with three robberies. The robberies occurred April 1 at a McCully-area gas station, April 30 at a Kalihi public-housing complex and April 19 at Ala Moana Center.

The man was arrested May 9 in Waikiki on suspicion of being in possession of a firearm after shots were reported fired during an argument on Kuhio Avenue.

Pool drowning victim identified

The medical examiner's office today identified a 59-year-old visitor from Japan who drowned yesterday in a Waikiki hotel swimming pool as Kuniyoki Hirama.

Rescue workers were called at 3:42 p.m. to the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani. The victim was taken to Straub Clinic & Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.