Party confrontation led to shooting, police say

An Aiea man was celebrating his 31st birthday at a bowling alley party when he got into a fight with another man and allegedly shot him in the shoulder.

Joseph R.M. Pasion, 31, made his initial Honolulu District Court appearance yesterday after being charged with second-degree attempted murder in the shooting of Landon Dela Cruz in the parking lot of Aiea Shopping Center at 99-115 Aiea Heights Road.

Pasion, who has 17 convictions going back to 2001, is also charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and with several firearm and ammunition violations, and with using a firearm in committing a felony. He is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail.

His felony convictions include auto theft, property damage and promoting a dangerous drug. Pasion also faces a criminal property damage charge from a separate case earlier this year. Bail on that charge has been set at $50,000.

He also might be charged with promoting a dangerous drug because, police said, he was found with a bag believed to hold crystal methamphetamine when he was arrested at 12:45 a.m. Friday at a North Nimitz Highway hotel.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in District Court.

In a police affidavit filed in District Court, Aiea Bowl security officers told police that Pasion was celebrating his birthday with some of his friends in the bowling alley’s restaurant and bar at about 12:45 a.m. April 30.

A witness told police investigators that one of the men in Pasion’s party started arguing with security officers over "a vending machine that ate his money." The witness said Pasion "was walking around with a chip on his shoulder, making (a) big scene, and everyone recognized Pasion as a trouble maker," according to the affidavit.

DELA CRUZ and Pasion "started eyeballing each other from head to toe, throwing up their hands and making (negative) gestures at each other," the witness told police. Pasion then nodded his head to one of the men in Dela Cruz’s group, which apparently was interpreted as a gesture that meant "let’s do something" or "let’s fight," and left.

Dela Cruz followed him outside, where Pasion told him, "What, you get problem?" the witness said. "Like trouble?"

Pasion continued "calling everybody out," or egging people on to fight, the witness said. Then Pasion went down the stairs to the parking lot, and Dela Cruz followed, according to the affidavit.

Pasion drove up in a silver Honda Odyssey van with a woman in the passenger seat. The witness said Pasion said something indiscernible, and Dela Cruz responded, "What?"

At that point Pasion opened the driver’s door of the Honda and shot Dela Cruz, the affidavit said.

Pasion then fled, driving the wrong way, and collided with a planter.

Dela Cruz was taken to the hospital in good condition with a shoulder wound.

Police issued a CrimeStoppers bulletin last Tuesday saying they wanted to question Pasion because he had been identified by witnesses, Aiea Shopping Center security officers and Dela Cruz in a photographic lineup.

Detectives received information on Friday that Pasion was staying at the airport hotel in a room registered to a friend of his girlfriend.