Video: 2nd Victim Dies In Golf Course Shooting
Police Arrest 3 In Golf Course Shooting
POSTED: 1:58 pm HST January 7,
2004
UPDATED: 7:08 am HST January 8,
2004
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HONOLULU -- Workers at the Pali Municipal Golf Course called Honolulu police to the facility after three people were shot Wednesday afternoon. Police arrested three men in connection with the case.It happened at about 1:15 p.m. at the Pali Golf Course's parking lot.
The three people were left in critical condition. Two of the victims were taken to the Queen's Medical Center and the other person was taken to Castle Medical Center. Two of the victims died, according to a Honolulu Police Department. One of the victims taken to Queen's Medical Center and the victim taken to Castle Medical Center.The victims were shot in the golf course's parking lot, according to police.One witness said he saw one of the victims walk out of the pro shop, look back, make a call on his cellular phone and then collapse.Another witness said he saw one man in custody in handcuffs in the parking lot and saw another man run off through the golf course leaving a bloody jacket behind.Authorities shut down the course and evacuated the golfers. Police teams searched the area for suspects. The HPD's Air One helicopter joined the search along with the SWAT team.Sources said the victims and the suspects were together at a funeral just prior to the shootings.
Police confirm the two groups of men knew each other, but they have not said why the men chose the golf course parking lot to settle a gambling bet. Investigators said an argument broke out and at least one of the men pulled out a gun and fired.Police said the golf course was packed with people at the time of the incident, but no one was injured other than the three involved in the argument.Police took three men into custody at HPD's downtown cell block.Police have identified two of the three men arrested in connection with the case. They are Ethan Motta, 34, of Hilo and Rodney Joseph of Waianae.Police arrested Motta as he tried to catch a flight back to the Big Island. Authorities arrested Motta last February along with six other people on gambling charges. Motta faced 10 counts of gambling in that raid of a Hilo gambling operation.Police said Joseph is a professional kickboxer.Police have not released the identity of the third man in custody.The men who were shot were not golfers, according to sources. Police said no golfers or workers were injured.The shooting involved a gambling debt, according to KITV 4 News sources.
The three people were left in critical condition. Two of the victims were taken to the Queen's Medical Center and the other person was taken to Castle Medical Center. Two of the victims died, according to a Honolulu Police Department. One of the victims taken to Queen's Medical Center and the victim taken to Castle Medical Center.The victims were shot in the golf course's parking lot, according to police.One witness said he saw one of the victims walk out of the pro shop, look back, make a call on his cellular phone and then collapse.Another witness said he saw one man in custody in handcuffs in the parking lot and saw another man run off through the golf course leaving a bloody jacket behind.Authorities shut down the course and evacuated the golfers. Police teams searched the area for suspects. The HPD's Air One helicopter joined the search along with the SWAT team.Sources said the victims and the suspects were together at a funeral just prior to the shootings.Police confirm the two groups of men knew each other, but they have not said why the men chose the golf course parking lot to settle a gambling bet. Investigators said an argument broke out and at least one of the men pulled out a gun and fired.Police said the golf course was packed with people at the time of the incident, but no one was injured other than the three involved in the argument.Police took three men into custody at HPD's downtown cell block.Police have identified two of the three men arrested in connection with the case. They are Ethan Motta, 34, of Hilo and Rodney Joseph of Waianae.Police arrested Motta as he tried to catch a flight back to the Big Island. Authorities arrested Motta last February along with six other people on gambling charges. Motta faced 10 counts of gambling in that raid of a Hilo gambling operation.Police said Joseph is a professional kickboxer.Police have not released the identity of the third man in custody.The men who were shot were not golfers, according to sources. Police said no golfers or workers were injured.The shooting involved a gambling debt, according to KITV 4 News sources.Copyright 2004 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
