Did you guys know that a federal agent walked into a McDonalds and shot a kanaka maoli kid here?

[mahina]

A local young man 23 years old was shot in cold blood and his murderer is out and has probably left Hawaii.
His poor family.

Can not wait for APEC to be over and all these strange people to go away. I'm happy to have visitors here from all over the world every day but THESE people have GOT to GO! There's a bazillion of them all over town.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/133340068.html

The federal agent arrested in the fatal shooting of a Kailua man early Saturday morning in Waikiki has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Christopher Deedy, 27, a U.S. State Department special agent attached to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, is accused of killing 23-year-old Kollin Elderts during a confrontation at the McDonald’s restaurant on Kuhio Avenue around 3 a.m. It is not known if Deedy was assigned to work at this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

Deedy’s bail has been set at $250,000.

edited to add, kanaka maoli = native Hawaiian, as distinct from a person from Hawaii.

[NBachers]

1. There's nothing at that link that pertains to your story

[Tunkamerica]

3. here's something:

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20111109_Victim_in_Waikiki_shooting_deserves_justice_group_says.html?id=133519038

[mahina]

11. thank you

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Here are some links

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20111106_Federal_agent_arrested_in_fatal_shooting.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/133340068.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/133502738.html

[mahina]

10. mahalo

[mahina]

9. Thank you for the heads up, fixed, sorry

[neverforget]

2. I lived a block from that McDonalds on Ala Wai Blvd. Waikiki on weekend

nights was loud with lots of sirens because of fights when the bars close. I miss Hawaii but I don't miss that.

[MADem]

4. Bad link. NT

[mahina]

12. fixed, sorry MADem

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. It was discussed here and elsewhere previous IIRC

Have to be very questionable for HPD to arrest him. Been watching it with some interest.

[mahina]

13. Thanks, I haven't been here much

been stuck in frikken apec bs traffic.

There are military jeeps and dudes with machine guns in the middle of Kapi'olani Blvd for pete's sake. It is faster to walk to Waikiki than drive.

Can not. wait. till they are gone.

[MADem]

7. That's not quite what the other article says--or the comments following it.

They were both apparently quite drunk and got in a pissing contest.

There's video, too:

Suspect Performed CPR On Victim, Sources Say

...There is surveillance video of the incident from inside the Kuhio Avenue McDonald's in Waikiki, police sources said. Detectives reviewed the video before charging Christopher Deedy, 27, a diplomatic security agent, with second-degree murder, sources said.
Deedy claimed the man he's charged with shooting and killing, 23-year-old Kollin Elderts of Kailua, was drunk and disorderly at the Waikiki McDonald's just before 3 a.m. Saturday, a source who'd been briefed on the investigation said.
Deedy claimed Elderts was bothering other patrons, so Deedy stepped in and told him to quiet down, the source said.
That led to a verbal argument which escalated into a physical fight that ended with Deedy shooting and killing Elderts, the source said.

Read more: http://www.kitv.com/news/29741260/detail.html#ixzz1dMuDBs6g

[mahina]

14. The brother said "Everybody is happy, how come you folks are not happy"?

For which he was killed.

Kailua boy. Keiki o ka aina.

[MADem]

18. I didn't see that in the articles I read.

No one deserves to get shot and killed for simply getting into a drunken altercation, but there was something going on there that escalated. The drunken agent didn't just wander in and pick out this guy and shoot him. It looks like the fight in the fast food place was a continuation of an altercation that started elsewhere:

Police did not release many details about the shooting, but the Eldert's family told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Deedy followed the victim to the restaurant after the two got into a scuffle at a nearby club.

" was in a club and got into a beef with a guy who turned out to be a federal agent," the family's lawyer, Michael Green, told the newspaper. "The guy followed him to McDonald's and shot him once in the chest."


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/federal-agent-facing-murder-charges-shooting-man-hawaii-mcdonald-article-1.973862#ixzz1dN6EqoVk

The charge is 2nd degree murder, not 1st degree. More will come out, I'm sure, as the investigation continues.

There's something here we're not hearing though. No idea what.

[mahina]

20. And then the story changed.

That is what he said, based on eyewitness reports.

I hope he goes to prison for the rest of his life. I bet he is in another country already.

[MADem]

23. He'll be in court, I'll bet. It's a 2nd degree murder charge.

People do more time for money laundering than they do for 2nd degree murder. Seems odd, but in many cases, it's true.

He's not that old, late 20s, and he's on paid leave. Unless he comes from a wealthy family (and I'll bet he doesn't) he won't have the assets to run.

The story does keep changing, and the police aren't saying much of anything. The lawyer for the deceased and his family is the one releasing most of the information:

Green, however, told Civil Beat that it was unlikely police would have handled the case the way they did if they believed the shooting was self defense.

"The thing that was shocking to me was how quickly they charged him," Green said. "This guy is no threat to flee. He's a federal agent. He had a right to have a gun. ... The police were, I'm sure, very confident when they charged the case that they had the crime."

Green said Elderts had been drinking with friends before going to McDonald's, where he got into an argument with Deedy. It escalated, and Deedy fired three shots, according to Green: One into the ceiling, one into the wall and one that struck and killed Elderts.

"Alcohol had a lot to do with this thing," he said.

Green said he's representing Elderts' estate as well as his parents, and plans to sue Deedy. He could also file suit against the federal government if it's determined that Deedy was on duty at the time or otherwise acting in some sort of official capacity.


http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/07/13652-murder-suspect-wont-see-court-until-after-apec/

[BlueMTexpat]

28. If he was actually a State Department employee, as opposed to a contractor hiree,

Elderts' family should indeed be able to sue the USG. It is my understanding that diplomatic security agents, like police officers, are considered to be on duty 24/7, regardless of what the "official" work day is.

How on earth are such trigger-happy guys even allowed to become diplomatic security agents, if Deedy actually was one? I have known several whose major issues were with generally minor fender benders, never with anything related to weaponry. They were actually fairly decent people and not at all trigger-happy.

Of course, my relevant experience occurred pre-Bush II, after which God only knows what and how many marginal characters were allowed into federal civil service simply because they had "found God," attended evangelical schools or were friends of those who had.

They are all scary people and there should have been a full-scale rooting out of them once Obama came in, IMO, unless they were actually qualified - by standard objective criteria - to serve in the positions they hold.

[MADem]

29. I think he might be--they said he was on paid leave.

Those frigging contractors are often not terribly understanding about things like "paid leave."

It often takes a decade or more to get rid of the flotsam and jetsam of past generations. I can't tell you how many Reagan barnacles I had to deal with during the Clinton era; they'd pop up in the oddest places at the most annoying times (and I was the type to check their history). I even worked with a couple of creaky old former Nixon appointees. See, they "jump ship" and go from an appointed position to a competitive position, get in the damn system, and then they are like a piece of gum stuck to your shoe--can't get rid of 'em.

[BlueMTexpat]

37. I hear you! LOL

It's one thing if they are actually qualified to do the job and can do it in a nonpartisan way.

There used to be some truly decent Republican appointees who managed to get into career civil service positions and when they did, took their positions as servants of all citizens seriously.

But I can't believe that is the case with ANY of the ideological nutcases foisted upon us by the Bush-Rove-Cheney cabal. For them, ideology not only came first, it was the ONLY consideration. And when so many of their appointees didn't even have the most basic smarts, but had also ceded what remained of their cerebral capacities to the radical religious RW, the lasting disservice to us all has been immeasurable.

[dkf]

26. Wasn't he shouting racial slurs?

Obviously that isn't a good reason for shooting someone but I don't think the trial is going to be very complimentary to him. I do feel bad for his family.

This hostility to guests is very unbecoming. I feel bad for us that instead of showing our best, we are showing such a lack of welcome. And yes I have been stuck in traffic. I'm still happy that our Prez wanted the conference here.

[MADem]

30. That might explain the 2nd degree charge.

It DOES seems odd to me that someone could shoot someone in a fast food joint, be bailed immediately, and get only a 2nd degree charge. I said earlier I thought there was something else going on--if there was shouting/confrontation that might have accounted for (not excused, but accounted for) the drunk agent's reaction.

I guess it will all come out in court. It is a strange case.

This article talks about the low and swift bail and other issues I've been wondering about:
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20111109__Low_bail_swift_release_suggest__to_some_that_suspect_had_help.html?id=133519118

What’s unusual about the way this case has been handled, according to Takemoto, a former deputy prosecutor, is that authorities have released hardly any information about what they believe happened.

Police say two males got into an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation, ending in the fatal shooting of the 23-year-old victim and the arrest of an off-duty federal agent, 27. Few other details have been released.

In a more typical murder case, a defendant would appear in court shortly after the alleged homicide, and a police document would be filed providing details of what they believe happened based on witness accounts and other evidence. The document would be filed to show a judge that authorities believe reasonable grounds exist to hold the suspect without charges.

But that document has yet to be made public because Deedy posted bail before his initial court appearance.

In other murder cases, police would be quick to provide details, Takemoto said, often asking for witnesses to contact them to provide more information. “In this case the police have said almost nothing about the allegations,” he added. “They have been really silent.”

[mahina]

22. I know you aren't saying that it is, but being drunk in Waikiki is not unusual.

If it was, we'd fill Diamond Head with drunks every day.

Nothing makes this right. We are pretty pissed off about this actually, many people are talking about it all over town, in disbelief and shock. We opened our town up to these people to come as guests and they shot one of our kids?

[MADem]

24. At that late hour in any tourist location I would imagine being drunk is probably not terribly

unusual.

I agree that nothing makes shooting a guy, even if one or both of the parties was loaded and they got in a tiff, right. It's a senseless act if that's how it went down.

There's something missing to this story, though--I don't claim to know what that "something" is, but there is a piece missing, suggested by the 2nd degree charge and the granting of bail. Perhaps the video will shine some light on what happened. Perhaps something happened earlier in the evening that made a bad situation worse. I'm not saying that this "something" would justify the use of deadly force, just that there's a few dots that need connecting with this sad event for the story to make sense.

I don't claim to know a thing--I just know that something doesn't sound quite complete about this story. Every article suggests the police are holding back some information.

Court in six days, after APEC wraps, might tell the tale:

Deedy's initial appearance was been pushed back from Monday to Nov. 17. Some details about the case will become public at that time, but that's a few days after APEC wraps up, and after the glare of the international media spotlight subsides.

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/07/13652-murder-suspect-wont-see-court-until-after-apec/

[Blue_Tires]

32. The cynic in me says a cover-up is being plotted

and they need some time to get the "official" story in order...

[MADem]

33. Would that be easily accomplished in that environment?

Are local police and the AG corrupt?

[Blue_Tires]

34. I know nothing about Hawaii cops and courts

But I will say much wider leaps in the imagination have been made in other cities...

[MADem]

36. There's something 'up' here--but I am not sure that it is corruption.

I think they might just want to get past the APEC business without too much fuss, and that's why they are being coy with the details. Of course, that seems to be having the effect of causing speculation to run rampant.

I don't know anything about the local scene there, either, which is why I asked if corruption was an issue. I am on a robust learning curve as to the details of this story.

[Downwinder]

8. In Pakistan they pay one million dollars blood money for that.

[mahina]

15. They can eat it

but who knows what will happen.

[MADem]

16. Saudi too, only sometimes you can bargain 'em down. NT

[Downwinder]

17. The Iraqifaccation of America.

It is going to be a dangerous world.

[MADem]

19. ? The guy has only been charged at this stage--he'll be back in court in a

week or so.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. RIP for this young man

and may his family find peace.

As to the agent, I hope it is not a symptom of something worst.

[ellisonz]

25. Sources: Security Video Shows Waikiki Shooting

Sources: Security Video Shows Waikiki Shooting
Suspect Performed CPR On Victim, Sources Say
Keoki Kerr KITV4 News

POSTED: 4:46 pm HST November 10, 2011
UPDATED: 5:12 pm HST November 10, 2011

HONOLULU -- KITV 4 News has uncovered new details about the events that happened before the fatal shooting of a Kailua man early Saturday morning in Waikiki.

Police have charged an off-duty federal security agent who was in town for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference with the crime.

There is surveillance video of the incident from inside the Kuhio Avenue McDonald's in Waikiki, police sources said. Detectives reviewed the video before charging Christopher Deedy, 27, a diplomatic security agent, with second-degree murder, sources said.

Deedy claimed the man he's charged with shooting and killing, 23-year-old Kollin Elderts of Kailua, was drunk and disorderly at the Waikiki McDonald's just before 3 a.m. Saturday, a source who'd been briefed on the investigation said.

Read more: http://www.kitv.com/news/29741260/detail.html#ixzz1dNFu8SGC

Deedy panicked and rendered aid after making a stupid decision. I think that he would not be charged if it was not clear cut that he'd shot Elderts in cold blood. If Deedy wasn't hammered he would have taken a sobriety test. He had no business carrying a loaded sidearm around at 3 A.M. in Waikiki.

Did you see this about what it's doing to the restaurants on Kapiolani: http://www.kitv.com/r-video/29731821/detail.html

APEC Auwe!

[Mendocino]

27. So two guys

both drinking, get into an argument. Ederts leaves, goes to McD's, Deedy with a loaded gun follows him there. Deedy continues the argument, then shoots him. By pursuing him, premeditation is shown.

This is tragic. Condolences to the 'Ohana of Kollin.

[MADem]

31. If that is true, the 2nd degree charge makes no sense.

The police are not talking--we don't know if that scenario you pose is even correct. I think we will find out next week.

[Mendocino]

35. Given the circumstances,

they think that 2nd Degree will stick. There are different versions of what happened but a friend of mine who lives in Honolulu said that it's likely Deedy followed Elderts to Macs. He works in the media there. So as you said, we'll see.