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Federal agent accused in killing posts bail; knife recovered

Gordon Y.K. Pang
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COURTESY: HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT
Honolulu police released a mugshot of Christopher Deedy, a U.S. State Department special agent, arrested and charged with murder for a fatal shooting early Saturday morning in Waikiki.

The 27-year-old federal special agent accused of fatally shooting a 23-year-old Kailua man Saturday posted $250,000 bail early this morning and was released from police custody.

Christopher Deedy, 27, an off-duty special agent with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security who was assigned to help with security at this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, is accused of killing 23-year-old Kollin Elderts during a confrontation at the McDonald’s restaurant on Kuhio Avenue at about 2:44 a.m. Saturday.

He is scheduled to make his initial District Court appearance on Nov. 17 after being charged Sunday night with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He posted bail at 4:30 a.m.

A police statement filed with the court that would provide more detail on the crime and arrest will not be released to the public until after Deedy’s court appearance, according to District Court workers. Police have refused to provide much information on the case, saying it is "an ongoing investigation."

Elderts was hit with one bullet to the chest, two other bullets were found in the ceiling and the wall of the McDonald’s, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous.

The source also told the Star-Advertiser that a pocket knife was recovered at the scene but it is unknown to whom it belonged. The knife had blood on it but no one was reported stabbed, the source said. 

The State Department confirmed today that Deedy was in Honolulu to beef up security ahead of the APEC summit, which begins Tuesday. He has been put on paid administrative leave.

Attorney Michael Green, who was retained by Elderts’ mother, said Elderts and Deedy got into an altercation at a nightclub and Deedy followed Elderts to the McDonald’s.

Green said he plans to seek surveillance videos around Waikiki to see what led to the shooting.

Mayor Peter Carlisle, a former city prosecutor, described Saturday’s incident as "unfortunate that it occurred during APEC."

"But is equally unfortunate that it occurred at all."

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said his thoughts and prayers were with Elderts’ family.

"I am confident that the Honolulu Police Department will handle this matter properly to ensure that justice is served, and that our community will be respectful and considerate of both the Elderts family and the national and international spotlight which is upon our beloved Hawaii this week," Inouye said in a statement.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

 

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