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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Ewa woman gunned down by motorcyclist

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The woman was in a black Hummer when she was shot by a man who rode up on a motorcycle, fired and then rode away, a witness said. The woman had obtained a restraining order against her former boyfriend.

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'EWA — A 25-year-old woman was shot multiple times and killed yesterday afternoon near her home, and police last night arrested the woman's ex-boyfriend, who they said had a history of terrorizing the victim.

Although police would not say that Toi Albert Nofoa, 31, was a suspect in the shooting, they did say he was wanted for questioning in connection with the case.

Police did not release the woman's name last night, but a source confirmed the victim was Royal K. Kaukani of 'Ewa.

Police Maj. Frank Fujii said a man who matched Nofoa's description — 6 feet 2 and 230 pounds — was seen fleeing the scene of the shooting.

"We want to talk to him and question him about the shooting," Fujii said yesterday afternoon.

An islandwide all-points-bulletin was issued for Nofoa's arrest. At about 9:20 p.m., police captured Nofoa in a home on the 41-700 block of Kalani'anaole Highway in Waimanalo.

Nofoa was arrested on the strength of a $75,000 warrant for a separate case, but was not booked in connection with the shooting.

Court documents show that Kaukani last year filed for temporary restraining order petitions against Nofoa in June and again in September.

The latter petition was related to an incident that month in which Nofoa was accused of kidnapping the woman at gunpoint in Ko Olina, where Kaukani worked. Police said Nofoa forced the woman into his car and drove to Hale'iwa, where Kaukani was able to escape with the help of people who were at a gas station.

Police issued a CrimeStoppers bulletin for Nofoa's arrest, and he was picked up on Sept. 16 at a Helelua Street home in Nanakuli. Nofoa was charged the following day with kidnapping and terroristic threatening, but was released on $75,000 bail.

In February, Fujii said, Nofoa allegedly kidnapped and assaulted Kaukani again, but this time he was able to avoid arrest. In that incident, police said, Kaukani met Nofoa at his brother's home in 'Aiea, where he threatened to kill her and forcibly restrained her.

Police said the woman was allowed to leave after she regained consciousness.

Another CrimeStoppers bulletin was issued, but Nofoa managed to avoid police until yesterday. When Nofoa failed to appear at a March 5 court date, his bail was forfeited and police intensified their search for him.

"We have been pursuing him," Fujii said.

Fujii said the shooting victim had told police she received a call from Nofoa earlier this month and that she believed he was on the Mainland. But Fujii said police were still actively searching for him on O'ahu, and as recently as yesterday morning were staking out a place that Nofoa frequents.

"We still weren't taking anything lightly with regards to this case because the suspect in the earlier crimes was a potential danger to her," Fujii said. "We still were in the process of making sure that we kept the victim as safe as possible."

But something went terribly wrong yesterday as the woman was shot as she sat in her Hummer sport utility vehicle on Kaukolu Way near her home.

Janere Quijano, 17, said he was smoking a cigarette in his driveway a little after 2:20 p.m. when he heard at least two gunshots. At first he said he thought the popping sound came from neighborhood kids playing with fireworks, but quickly realized the loud noises came from a gun.

"I walked up the street to see what was happening," said Quijano, who lives three houses away from the shooting scene. "I seen a blue motorcycle running off and I saw things all over the road. The (Hummer's) doors were open and her bag and cell phone were on the road."

Quijano said he didn't get a good look at the motorcyclist's face, but said the rider was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt or tank top as he raced off. He said the Hummer was stopped in the middle of Kaukolu Way, halfway between Kaukolu Place and Keanui Drive.

A 9-year-old boy said he was standing at the corner of Kaukolu Way and Kaukolu Place when he saw a man on a motorcycle park his motorcycle and run toward the Hummer. The boy said he was afraid and began to run home when he heard one shot.

The boy also said that the man was wearing a white shirt and had a helmet on.

Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department, said the woman suffered multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to Hawaii Medical Center West in critical condition before she was transported to The Queen's Medical Center.

Fujii said the victim died at 9:30 last night.

Nofoa did not have an extensive adult criminal history before the incidents involving Kaukani. Court records show that Nofoa was found guilty of consuming liquor in public on Jan. 17, 2006, and fined $50.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.