Honolulu police identify suspect in fatal shooting at illegal game room

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting Wednesday night at an illegal game room near the Hawaii Convention Center.

Police said the suspect, Kawika Kanakanui, was under arrest for an unrelated crime and then booked on murder charges about 5 p.m. Thursday.

The 33-year-old victim in the shooting was identified by family members as Bryson Okada.

Authorities said the shooting happened just after 10 p.m. Wednesday in a row of businesses located behind the Convention Center near Aktinson Drive and Kona Street.

It’s unclear if Okada was the intended target.

Law enforcement sources say about an hour before the shooting the gunman allegedly got into a fist fight with one of the victim’s friends. Then around 10:15 p.m., a white car pulled up and two men got out, according to a witness.

“They had some guy spot, you know stand around spotting,” the witness said, “To see if any cops come. They went in the game room. One guy came out with the gun and the other guy came out running right after him,” the witness said.

Before the suspect fled the scene, the witness said, “the guy handed the gun to some guy over here on a bicycle.”

Law enforcement sources say the victim was shot in the back of the head. He died at the scene.

The murder was the 15th so far this year on Oahu. That’s up 400%, compared to 2019, before the pandemic.

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