Fire damages Chinatown restaurant

A fire damaged the kitchen of the Won Kee Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown yesterday morning, shutting down North Beretania Street at the height of rush hour.

Employees were in the restaurant but no one was injured.

Firefighters responded to the alarm at 7:57 a.m., said Capt. Terry Seelig, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department.

Seelig said investigators were still determining the cause of the fire, but said there appeared to have been a grease buildup in the grease trap.

"It appears to be related to the grease trap," he said. "It extended up into the hood and ducting for the hood."

The fire was considered under control by 8:06 a.m., although smoke continued to come out of the duct for about 45 minutes, he said.

Damage appeared confined to the kitchen, he said.

4 held in gaming employee’s death

Four men were in custody yesterday awaiting charges in the killing of an illegal gambling house employee in Chinatown over the weekend.

Police said late April 1, the assailants, who work at various illegal gambling establishments, assaulted a 42-year-old employee of a gambling house who stole money.

The man was taken to the hospital with head injuries and died shortly before 1 a.m. April 2.

A 31-year-old man was arrested yesterday at the main police station on Beretania Street about 5 p.m. on suspicion of second-degree murder and kidnapping.

Three other men, ages 24, 21 and 26, were arrested about 1 p.m. at the main station on suspicion of second-degree murder and kidnapping.

The Medical Examiner’s Office said the victim’s name was being withheld, pending notification of next of kin. An autopsy did not determine the cause of death and further test results were pending.