The 44-year-old Maili man who allegedly shot and killed his mother Friday is an adult corrections officer at Oahu Community Correctional Center, the Department of Public Safety has confirmed.
Anthony F. Pereira II was arraigned in District Court on Monday morning on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug (methamphetamine), kidnapping and first-degree terroristic threatening.
He is being held at Halawa Correctional Facility.
Pereira has not reported to work since April 10, the department said in a news release Monday.
Public Safety Department spokeswoman Toni Schwartz said Pereira failed to show up for work and was placed on unpaid leave.
The Public Safety Department is conducting an internal administrative investigation and assisting Honolulu police in their criminal investigation, Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda said in the release.
Pereira was hired in August 2002.
Police officers responded to an emergency call at a Farrington Highway residence at about 3:40 p.m. Friday. They found 66-year-old Barbara Pereira inside, dead from apparent gunshot wounds, and a man, identified as Pereira, with a firearm, police said. The officers were able to persuade the suspect to surrender, according to police.
Pereira also allegedly threatened a 48-year-old woman with a dangerous instrument and held her against her will.
Police officer charged with sexual assault
A 10-year-veteran of the Honolulu Police Department who triggered a manhunt last week was released from the hospital Friday and has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Jessie Laconsay, 37, was charged Monday with two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree sexual assault. He is still in police custody.
His bail was set at $500,000.
He was arrested Wednesday in Mokuleia and taken to Wahiawa General Hospital for treatment of cuts to his wrists.
Agricultural workers tackle blaze on Maui
Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar workers on Maui were called to fight a 50-acre brush fire Sunday below the Maui Trap and Gun Club on Haliimaile Road.
Maui firefighters arrived at about 3:20 p.m. and found a large fire burning in a sugar cane field below the gun club. Because the fire was in the middle of a field with no easy access, firefighters could only monitor the fire until HC&S workers arrived.
At 4 p.m. HC&S heavy equipment and water tankers arrived and began cutting firebreaks. Firefighters left at 4:50 p.m. after HC&S employees contained the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
