Victim in fatal Kalihi game room shooting struggled with gunman, police say
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Prescott Kesi appeared in District Court on Oct. 3. Kesi appeared at his arraignment today on charges of one count of second-degree murder and two counts of firearm-related charges in the death of Pitulo Vaipapa.
A 35-year-old man accused of shooting a 28-year-old man at an illegal game room in Kalihi appeared in Circuit Court this morning.
Prescott Kesi appeared at his arraignment via closed-circuit video link before Judge Colette Garibaldi from the Oahu Community Correctional Center on charges of one count of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of firearm-related charges in the shooting of Pitulo Vaipapa who died on Oct. 14.
On Oct. 8 — six days before Vaipapa’s death — Honolulu District Judge James Kawashima found probable cause to have Kesi stand trial for attempted murder.
Prosecutors are likely to seek an indictment charging Kesi with murder.
Deputy Public Defender Doris Lum entered a not guilty plea to the attempted murder charges. Garibaldi confirmed his bail at $500,000 and set his trial for December.
The deadly shooting occurred at a game room on Kalani Street on Sept. 30. Police said Kesi approached Vaipapa and yelled at him. He then allegedly struck him on the head with a handgun.
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The two men were wrestling with one another when the gun went off twice, hitting Vaipapa in the head.
Police said Kesi fled the scene after a bouncer took the firearm away from Kesi.
Vaipapa was taken in critical condition to Queen’s Medical Center where he died on Oct. 14.
Kesi turned himself in at the Pearl City police station about an hour after the shooting.
