Police are looking into a possible work-related connection in Friday night’s shooting at a Bank of Hawaii in Waipahu that left two people seriously injured.
The gunman remained at large Saturday afternoon.
Police said a 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were shot in a botched robbery attempt about 7:55 p.m. at the Bank of Hawaii at 94-712 Farrington Highway.
The two victims then drove a Dodge Charger about three-fourths of a mile to Max’s of Manila restaurant on Farrington Highway to get help.
An Emergency Medical Services supervisor said the victims were taken to the hospital in serious condition.
Police said one of the victims is a manager at Color-Tyme Rent to Own in Waipahu and was at the bank to make a deposit, but was still in the car when the gunman approached and opened fire. A police source said investigators are looking into a connection to a former ColorTyme employee.
A manager at ColorTyme would not comment.
The man was hit several times, according to EMS radio reports. Police said the woman was hit at least twice. The Dodge Charger, which police had dusted for fingerprints and then towed to the main station, had at least six bullet holes through the windshield and four side windows.
A Bank of Hawaii official said the bank turned over its security videos to police.
Tina Laupola, who was having dinner nearby when the shooting happened, said she heard five gunshots altogether — first two shots, then a short pause, and three more shots.
"At night we always walk back and forth around the area," Laupola said. "We thought it must be safe, but not anymore."
Two teenagers who were in a flower shop nearby said they heard two shots, ran outside thinking they were the sound of fireworks, and saw muzzle flashes and a gunman shooting at the car as it was leaving the parking lot.
The gunman, who was wearing a mask, ran toward Waipahu Festival Marketplace on Waipahu Depot Road, the teenagers said.
Police opened a first-degree attempted-murder case.