Prosecutors yesterday charged a second man in connection with the shooting death of a 35-year-old man in Chinatown early Saturday.

Zorro R. Rye, 24, of 'Aiea, is accused of being one of two men who gunned down Joseph Peneueta at the intersection of River and Pauahi streets shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday. Rye was charged with one count of second-degree murder, first-degree terroristic threatening and two firearms charges.

Rye was scheduled to make his first court appearance this morning. His bail was set at $1 million.

Meanwhile, Rye's co-defendant, Iosefa M. Pasene, made his initial appearance in District Court yesterday on identical charges. A preliminary hearing for Pasene is set for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow to determine if there is enough evidence in the case to turn it over to Circuit Court.

Rye was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday after he was contacted by police and agreed to meet with a homicide detective at the main police station on South Beretania Street.

In a police affidavit released yesterday, a witness identified Pasene as the driver of a blue Buick that was seen driving down River Street and turning into Pauahi Street at about 4:13 a.m. Saturday. The witness told police that Rye was in the back seat of the car.

Other witnesses said they saw two men get out of the Buick and fire several shots at Peneueta as he tried to flee. The men then got back into the car and drove off.

Peneueta was taken to a hospital, where he died of gunshot wounds. Police recovered 14 shell casings from a rifle and four spent shotgun casings at the scene.

Police initially said they were looking for three men involved in the shooting — two gunmen and the driver of the car. But in the police affidavit released yesterday, police said only two men were involved in the attack.

Pasene, 21, appeared barefoot yesterday before District Judge Edwin Nacino. He was wearing a baggy white disposable jumpsuit and his ankles and wrists were shackled.

Several beefy deputy state sheriffs blocked him from approaching friends or relatives seated in the courtroom gallery. Throughout the 90-second hearing, Pasene kept his body turned to the gallery.

As the hearing ended, Pasene again tried to move toward the gallery, but was turned back by the deputy sheriffs and led out of the courtroom.

Nacino scheduled a preliminary hearing for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow to determine if there is enough evidence in the case to turn it over to Circuit Court.

Pasene, who has no local address, has no criminal record in Hawai'i.

Rye was convicted on March 11 on one count of third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and fined $150.