Police arrest suspect in Waipahu killing

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 26-year-old Makiki man was stabbed to death at an apartment complex in Waipahu early yesterday.

A 29-year-old man was arrested in connection with the stabbing.

The medical examiner's office identified the victim as S.T. Salle. He was pronounced dead in a unit of the Oasis at Waipahu apartments on Waipahu Street. The complex, formerly known as Nova Sunset Villas Apartments, has been the scene of other violent crimes.

Yesterday's stabbing was reported to police at 4:50 a.m.

"It's an apparent love triangle," homicide Lt. David Kamai said.

The arrested man went to apartment No. 168, where he became involved in an argument with his estranged wife and Salle, Kamai said. Salle was stabbed with a kitchen knife.

The suspect was booked on second-degree murder at the Pearl City police station at 5:05 p.m.

Two families from Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia live in the unit, but investigators were having problems getting statements from them because of a language barrier, said Kamai.

There have been two murder-suicides and a 5 1/2-hour standoff with police at the complex since 1999.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.