Medical examiner releases IDs of Pearl Harbor shooting victims and gunman
COURTESY GOFUNDME.COM
Vincent J. Kapoi, Jr., 30, of Honolulu, was a metals inspector apprentice at the Pearl Harbod Shipyard when he was killed by a gunman on the base on Wednesday.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Security personnel guarded the Pearl Harbor main gate, Wednesday, and temporarily shut all access after an active duty sailor on the attack submarine USS Columbia opened fire near Dry Dock 2. The family of one of the men killed has identified him.
The Navy and Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office today identified the two civilians killed by an active-duty sailor who then killed himself Wednesday at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
The civilians were identified as:
>> Vincent J. Kapoi Jr., 30, of Honolulu, metals inspector apprentice.
>> Roldan A. Agustin, 49, of Ewa Beach, shop planner (nondestructive testing).
The sailor was identified as Machinist’s Mate Auxiliary Fireman Gabriel Antonio Romero, 22, of Texas, assigned to the attack submarine USS Columbia.
>> SEE ALSO: Military officials offer few details in Pearl Harbor fatal shooting; motive still unknown
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The medical examiner ruled the manner of death for both Agustin and Kapoi Jr. as homicide; the manner of death for Romero was ruled a suicide. All died as a result of gunshot wounds.
A third civilian shipyard worker, 36, who was shot was taken to The Queen’s Medical Center and was listed in stable condition Thursday morning.
The Pearl Harbor submarine is in Dry Dock 2 at the shipyard for a two-year overhaul.
Agustin’s family put out a statement that said:
“Roldan Agustin was a true American patriot, having served in the U.S. Navy, retiring from the Army National Guard and most recently working as a Department of Defense civilian employee at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard as a metals inspector.
“He was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend to many. Having grown up in Waipahu, Roldan enjoyed working on cars with his friends and spending time with his family and adored his nieces. We will forever remember Roldan to be humble and honest, and a generous and patient man.”
Romero was acting as part of an armed security detail when he shot the three civilian workers and then killed himself, according to The Associated Press and other sources.
Romero “opened fire on shipyard personnel with his M-4 service rifle and then turned his M9 service pistol on himself,” Fox News Pentagon reporter Lucas Tomlinson reported, citing a preliminary incident report.
A gofundme.com page set up for Kapoi included a statement saying: “Vincent J. Kapoi, Jr., left this world unexpectedly when a gunman killed him and another at Pearl Harbor on December 4, 2019.
“He left behind his wife who shared “I’ve been through a lot of tragedy in my life, but nothing compares to losing the love of your life. I will miss you truly, and I will always love you Vincent J Jr. Kapoi. May we all find peace when we find out more about this tragic incident at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.”
“He also leaves behind an ohana that is so shocked and saddened by this tragedy, his parents, his sisters and brother, aunties, uncles, grandmother, cousins and friends who will never be the same.
“He grew up in Waianae, graduated from Kamehameha Schools and his last place of employment was at Pearl Harbor.”
