‘In shock’: Family of 20-year-old fatally shot at Ala Moana Center seeks answers

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The family of a 20-year-old man who was fatally shot over the weekend at Ala Moana Center is trying to get answers on how a night out with friends turned deadly.

Relatives identified the victim as Alan Jennings, of Waianae.

“You don’t even believe it. Like, I’m in shock,” said Jennings’ brother-in-law, Bubba Medeiros. “I don’t think that anybody should be shot. Over an argument? That doesn’t mean you take his life."

He added, “It’s quick to pull a gun. That’s the coward’s way out, to pull a gun on him. But why?”

The shooting happened about 1 a.m. on the third parking lot outside of Lucky Strike Social. Paramedics said the victim was taken in critical condition to a hospital, where he later died.

Police have arrested 23-year-old Kapono Joseph Miranda on suspicion of second-degree murder. He has not yet been charged.

Medeiros said he hadn’t slept since learning of Jennings’ death. He said the 20-year-old had never gotten into trouble.

“Don’t do no wrong, never got arrested, never got a ticket before,” Medeiros said. “How I’m getting one call two-clock in the morning last night that my brother-in-law, his life was taken from him. Over what?”

Jennings graduated from Mililani High School in 2017. Medeiros said he considered joining the military, but recently started a new job that would keep him closer to family.

“He always helped out with his family. He was always there for his family. He was always there for check on us, or we would check on him,” Medeiros said.

Medeiros said his brother-and-law and the suspect didn’t appear to know one another.

It’s not yet known whether Jennings or the suspect were drinking at Lucky Strike Social before the shooting, but Medeiros believes an altercation inside the arcade and party venue spilled out into the parking lot and questioned whether Jennings was improperly served alcohol.

“Twenty-one years old is the legal drinking age, and my brother-in-law is 20 years old,” he said. “Who’s checking their IDs? Who’s selling them the alcohol? How are they obtaining this?”

In a brief statement, Lucky Strike Social said:

“The safety and security of our guests and employees is our top priority. As this is an ongoing investigation, we ask that further inquiries be directed to the Honolulu Police Department.”

A spokeswoman for Ala Moana also referred inquiries to police.

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