Teenage suspect charged in fatal Waikiki stabbing that left Marine dead

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu police have charged a 16-year-old suspect with a fatal stabbing in Waikiki this weekend.

HPD says the teen was charged with second-degree murder at 2 p.m. Monday, two days after the stabbing that killed 23-year-old Marine William Brown.

According to police, Brown was stabbed after an altercation broke out at the corner of Kalakaua Avenue and Royal Hawaiian Avenue around 1 a.m. Saturday. Brown was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he later died.

Six other teens were also arrested after the stabbing, but were eventually released.

Another suspect, 21-year-old Brad Paul Aliksa, has been released pending an investigation.

Officials say Brown, a Tennessee native, was stationed at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

His honors included the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Korean Defense Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

Brown also met President Obama and his wife Michelle during their vacation to Hawaii in December 2016.

"Sgt. Brown was a beloved member of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines who had been with the unit for five years," said Lt. Col. Steven Eastin, battalion commander, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines.

"He had qualities we value in our Marine non-commissioned officers. His death is tragic and the battalion joins his family in grief. He will always be loved and remembered."

Friends remembered Brown as a positive guy with an optimistic attitude.

"He always put a smile on everyone's face because he always had a smile on his face," friend Elijah Estrada said. "He didn't let anything hold him down or break him down, he would push through."

The stabbing comes amid a spike of crime in Waikiki.

Last week, a Lyft driver reported he was attacked by a man in the early morning hours. On Oct. 10, a Canadian woman was beaten in an apparent random attack. And in September, a man was arrested following a shooting outside club Alley Cat that left another man dead.

The incidents are putting visitors to the state's top destination on edge.

"Some friends that are local residents yesterday said don't leave your hotel after midnight," Waikiki visitor Alan Hartley said. "They just said it wasn't safe there was a lot of drug activity in these streets at night."

Police are still asking anyone who witnessed the stabbing to come forward by calling CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

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