Posted on: Friday, April 29, 2005
Charges filed in Kalihi shooting incident
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
A 28-year-old Kalihi man was charged yesterday with first-degree attempted murder after being accused of shooting one man and firing several shots at another man last week.
Jonathan R. Soriano also was charged with two counts of second-degree attempted murder, three firearms counts, one count of promoting a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $700,000.
If convicted of the first-degree attempted murder charge, Soriano would face life in prison without possibility of parole. He was charged with the more serious charge because Soriano allegedly shot at more than one person, the city prosecutor's office said.
Soriano is accused of shooting a 46-year-old man three times early April 18, hitting the man in the shoulder and buttocks. The man was last listed in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center.
The victim was driven in a Honda sedan to the end of Piliwai Street in Kalihi Valley by another man early April 18, according to a police affidavit. The Honda drove up to another car with three males, including Soriano, inside, the affidavit said.
The victim got out of the car and began to argue with one of the men in the car. At that point Soriano got out of the car and fired several times at the man, the affidavit said.
The driver of the Honda drove off, but its driver said he heard more gunshots and that his car "was continually being struck several times on the driver side," the affidavit said. Police said the car was hit five times on the driver side, including one bullet that would have hit the driver in the torso if it hadn't been stopped by a car door handle, according to the affidavit.
Police said the Honda's driver went to the Kalihi substation and identified Soriano as the gunman.
On Tuesday, police received a tip that Soriano was at a restaurant on North School Street near Gulick Avenue. Members of the Kalihi Crime Reduction Unit spotted Soriano and arrested him in the restaurant.
This is the second time that Soriano has been charged with attempted murder.
In October 2003, he was accused of being with another man and attacking two other men in Kalihi. Soriano was accused of firing at least six shots at the men, wounding one.
Charges against Soriano were later dropped.
Soriano was convicted in 2001 of violating terms of a temporary restraining order. He was sentenced to six months in prison and placed on probation for a year, according to court documents.
Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.
