Makiki man charged with murder in fatal shooting
ROB SHIKINA / RSHIKINA@STARADVERTISER.COM
A small memorial is seen Sunday near where Gloria Takaoka was fatally shot next to her Green Street apartment in Makiki. Ernest Romero, a neighbor, was charged with murder today in connection with the shooting.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Honolulu police interview witnesses after a shooting on Saturday on Green Street in Makiki. A 74-year-old man was charged today in connection with the killing.
A 74-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his Makiki neighbor, a popular widow known for helping other residents, has been charged with murder.
Ernest Romero was charged at 3:15 p.m. today with second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. His bail was set at $1 million.
Police said officers responded to a report of multiple shots fired outside a Green Street apartment about 2:45 p.m. Saturday.
Responding officers found a 71-year-old woman, identified by neighbors as Gloria Takaoka, with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to a hospital where she died.
Another neighbor, 79-year-old Robert Barros, said Romero also shot at him twice after shooting Takaoka, but missed.
Police said Romero turned himself in to police about 3:35 p.m. Saturday at the main police station.
Neighbors said he was known to be argumentative.
They said Takaoka, a long-time resident of the apartment complex, would be missed for the joy she spread to others. Neighbors said Takaoka swept up around the neighborhood, helped care for other people’s pets, and brought food to others.
