Recent spate of gun violence in West Oahu prompts officials to beef up law enforcement
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The shock of more gun violence on the Waianae Coast has lead to changes and a swift response from city and state leaders.
Thursday night’s double shooting happened in a very populated area, near the Ulu Wehi Housing Complex, which is along Farrington Highway and surrounded by three different schools, including Waianae High School.
“I just found out about the recent one here in Waianae, every week, every day, there’s a shooting, and I’m so sad,” said one resident.
It’s the third shooting in Waianae in over a week.
City and state leaders held a press conference Friday evening to discuss a joint effort to address this spike in gun violence.
“Right now, our plan is to get through this weekend here with maximum force. We will provide protection as long as it takes,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said. “This is a turning point. Every situation has come to that. We had enough.”
Gov. Josh Green added, “Repeated shootings on the leeward coast are beyond worrisome, they are just horrifying...When our team came together late last night, we had to do more to support one another.”
HPD Chief Joe Logan discussed the allocation of officers from multiple agencies to address the issue.
“The Honolulu Police Department is increasing, providing more resources in the areas of patrol and plain clothes...We’ll be working with our federal partners, to saturate the area and to patrol the area in greater numbers.”
Officials said there will be added support from the state Department of Law Enforcement and DOCARE officers.
This increase in law enforcement comes after the shootings of two teenagers in Waianae on Thursday night.
At around 8:30, police rushed to Ala Akau Street.
That’s where EMS said a 15-year-old boy was treated for apparent gunshot wounds to the upper and lower body and was hospitalized in serious condition.
Just five minutes later, a 19-year-old man walked up to an ambulance nearby on Farrington Highway, also with multiple gunshot wounds.
He’s also hospitalized in a serious condition. It’s unclear where the second teen was injured.
These latest incidents happened just a day after officers shot and killed a man accused of firing several rounds at people in Waianae Valley. And last week Tuesday, there was also a deadly shooting at the Waianae Boat Harbor.
25-year-old Rastan Brown-Castro has since been charged for the murder of 31-year-old Cheylo Perkins-Chongtim.
“I just found out about the recent one here in Waianae, every week, every day, there’s a shooting, and I’m so sad,” said Gail Amina of Waianae. “I don’t know what else to say it’s just Waianae we got to pull together for our families.” The shootings prompted state and county officials to quickly beef-up law enforcement in West Oahu.
Hawaii News Now spotted Sheriff deputies at the boat harbor and more officers patrolling the area.
“The sheriffs was all over the place, one at the entrance, two back there, all over the parking lot,” said Edward Spencer of Waianae. “I’m happy that they’re here,” said Amina. “We need that.”
However, City Councilwoman Andria Tupola said it’s going to take more than just enhanced enforcement to make the area safer.
“I’m pushing for at least three months of overlapping crew, our crime reduction unit, basically going in, doing this investigation, pinpointing exactly who’s involved in the teenage shootings, what families, and really weeding this all out, all the way down to the root,” said Tupola. “We can’t just have mandate solutions of people parking around and showing presence in the blue light.”
“We have to solve these crimes and stop the shooting afterwards.”
Tupola, State Representatives Darius Kila and Cedric Gates are holding a youth-focused crime prevention town hall next week Wednesday at Waianae High School. It begins at 6 p.m.
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