Five homeless men have been killed on Honolulu streets in the past six months, prompting concern from the state’s homeless coordinator about the dangers facing many who live without shelter.
Colin Kippen, the state’s coordinator on homelessness, said the killings underscore the fact that living on the streets of Honolulu can be perilous.
"The answer needs to be permanent housing," he said. "We’ve got to figure out how to do more than just move people from sidewalk to sidewalk."
Kippen said a $2.1 million federal grant recently awarded to the state Health Department should help provide additional case management services for the chronically homeless with disabilities and help to get more people off the streets. He said the state also needs to create more affordable housing for the needy.
Last year’s "Point-in-Time" homeless count found 3,091 people in shelters and 1,465 unsheltered homeless on Oahu. The unsheltered count had risen 11 percent over the previous year, while the sheltered count was up 1.8 percent.
Among people housed in Oahu shelters, two-thirds were part of family units. Among the unsheltered on the island, roughly 9 out of 10 were individuals.
The homeless man who most recently fell victim on the streets was severely wounded and died after being found outside a Kailua restaurant Monday night.
The victim was stabbed while sleeping in an area on Uluniu Street in Kailua near Cinnamon’s Restaurant. Friends identified him as Scott MacMillan, a Kalaheo High School graduate, and former chef at Lucy’s Grill & Bar and Island Fusion. Dozens of friends of MacMillan posted tributes to the Kailua resident on Facebook.
MacMillan was taken at about 11:45 p.m. in extremely critical condition to a hospital, where he died.
Honolulu police and CrimeStoppers have asked the public for help in finding a suspect in the case. The wanted man is described as in his 20s, 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a slim build and dark curly or bushy hair. He was wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt or hoodie, dark pants and a baseball or skull cap, and carried a black backpack. No suspects have been arrested.
According to police, a witness said there was a commotion in the alley and a man fled, leaving the victim with multiple stab wounds.
Monday’s stabbing was the fifth killing of a homeless man in the past six months.
The other victims were:
» Robert Coleman Jr., 48, who died after being stabbed at Kailua District Park on July 12. Another homeless man Brian Kim, 58, was charged with second-degree murder.
» Lynn Riley, 49, was killed Oct. 1 in Aala Park. Ronald Page, 58, who also was homeless, was charged with second-degree murder. The Medical Examiner’s Office said Riley died of bleeding in the skull due to blunt force injury from the assault.
» Mamer "Eddie" Semana, 83, died Dec. 5. He was found unconscious in Chinatown with head injuries a day earlier. R.J. Marsolo, 18, was charged with second-degree murder and third-degree assault. The Medical Examiner’s Office said Semana died from blunt force injuries to his head.
» Anthony Montero, 62, also known as Paul A. Manner, who identified himself as a freelance journalist and also ran unsuccessfully for political office, was killed Dec. 27. Montero was reportedly attacked by a group of teenagers near South King and Punahou streets, where he had been sleeping. Police have charged a 16-year-old boy from Palolo with second-degree murder.
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Star-Advertiser staff writer Timothy Hurley contributed to this report.
