Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeWoman fatally stabbed in Ewa Beach parking lot

Woman fatally stabbed in Ewa Beach parking lot

By Zahid Arab - bio | email

EWA (KHNL)- A fatal assault on Aloha Friday, as a woman is stabbed to death then left for dead at a busy Oahu shopping center.

Sources say the stabbing victim is Asa Yamashita, an English faculty member at Waianae High School.

Around 1:30 Friday afternoon, witnesses say Yamashita was stabbed numerous times in the arms and stomach.

The question on everyone's mind? If there was a connection between the suspect and victim and the state of mind of the attacker.

Police tape and bloody towels tell the terror of this crime scene. Timmy Nguyen saw it unfold right before him.

"Very scary, very terrifying," said Nguyen, owner of Lovely Nails II.

Timmy Bean Hashimoto, the owner of Ewa Seed Co. says the victim Asa Yamashita, an English faculty member at Waianae High School , bought saimin inside his store then sat on this bench to enjoy it.

That's when he says he saw a man hiding behind this dumpster rush towards her. She was stabbed and got the strength to go to a nail salon next door for help.

"She ran in and said help! She already got stabbed and got stabbed a couple more times right at the front door," said Nguyen.

"I saw a guy walking around the parking lot with no shirt and it looked like he was holding a knife," said witness Collin Inong.

Inong was waiting for a haircut.

"He calmly walked across the street and went around the corner," said Inong.

When police found him he didn't put up a fight.

"He was sitting down on the corner of Geiger and Ft. Weaver Road, smoking a cigarette when officers pulled up," said Honolulu Police Lieutenant Bill Kato.

A plastic cover of a knife was recovered from the dumpster. Authorities found what's believed to be the murder weapon, a knife, in bushes across the street.

Witnesses saw the two arguing before the incident, but it isn't known for sure if Yamashita and the suspect knew each other.

Yamashita was rushed to Ewa's St. Francis West Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

As the suspect remains in police custody, Waianae teachers say they're in shock.Yamashita was well-liked. They say she was inspiring and highly involved in making the school successful.