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| Shipyard employees Vincent J. Kapoi, Jr, left, and Roldan A. Agustin were fatally shot at Pearl Harbor. |
It took only 23 seconds for a US Navy sailor to fatally shoot two shipyard workers and then turn his weapon on himself.
The two Department of Defense civilian employees, Roldan A. Agustin and Vincent J. Kapoi, Jr., both of Filipino heritage, were killed by machinist's mate Gabriel Romero, 22, officials said.
A third victim was wounded and remains hospitalized. His injury is not life-threatening.
Authorities believe Romero opened fire Thursday (Dec. 5) at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard near Honolulu. He used his service rifle to shoot the victims, then killed himself with his service pistol, an official said.
"The incident happened in 23 seconds," said Norm Dominesey, NCIS special agent-in-charge at a press conference on Friday.
Romero was armed and standing guard near the USS Columbia, the submarine to which he was assigned, when he fired upon the workers. It is not known if he knew his victims. A motive has not been identified. Romero was reportedly undergoing counseling for anger issues and was facing disciplinary hearings for undisclosed misconduct.
"The incident happened in 23 seconds," said Norm Dominesey, NCIS special agent-in-charge at a press conference on Friday.
Romero was armed and standing guard near the USS Columbia, the submarine to which he was assigned, when he fired upon the workers. It is not known if he knew his victims. A motive has not been identified. Romero was reportedly undergoing counseling for anger issues and was facing disciplinary hearings for undisclosed misconduct.
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US NAVY FILE PHOTO
The USS Columbia submarine was at Pearl Harbor for routine maintenance. |
The motive, if any, is unknown. Authorities said there was nothing to indicate the shooting was an act domestic terrorism.
As the investigation continues, the families of Agustin , 49, and Kapoi, 30, described them as family men.
Kapoi was identified by his family on Thursday, with his wife Tara confirming his death to the Associated Press. According to Facebook posts, the pair married earlier this year.
A funeral for Vincent Kapoi is planned for Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Kapalama School Chapel at Kamehameha Schools, where he graduated, relatives said.
"What we do have to do, and must do, is honor his memory, keep him alive in our hearts and please keep him in your hearts and always remember good times," his sister said as she fought back tears. "May we ask for your respect and space in our time of grieving."
Kapoi leaves behind a wife and other relatives, according a fundraising website launched by his relatives to pay for his funeral.
He grew up in Waianae on the island of Oahu and came from a family of shipyard workers, according to Hawaii News Now.
He was proud of his Native Hawaiian and Filipino heritage and graduated from the University of San Francisco in 2011, his college roommate Daniel Vu told Honolulu Civil Beat.
"He was very giving, very generous, and willing to sacrifice a lot," said Vu, describing how Kapoi would wake up at 3 a.m. to work on the docks to pay for his college tuition.
His sister Theona described her brother as "that easy going, fun loving, 'let’s do this' man," in a statement read to media on behalf of the family.
"On the 4th of December, our lives changed forever," she told media. "The loss of a son, uncle, friend, husband and brother, my brother Vincent."
Agustin was born in Laoag City, Philippines, and moved to Hawaii when he was 2, according to his mother, Ida Agustin.
“He’s a good man,” she told the Associated Press through tears.
“I’m so sorry, anak ko; I’m still shaking,” she added Friday, using the phrase “my child” in Ilocano, a Filipino dialect.
Family members said Agustin served in the Navy and retired from the Army National Guard, then became a metals inspector at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
In a statement, his brother said Agustin enjoyed working on cars with his friends and spending time with family.
"He was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend to many," the Agustin family said.
Funeral arrangements for Agustin were not known as of Saturday.
As the investigation continues, the families of Agustin , 49, and Kapoi, 30, described them as family men.
Kapoi was identified by his family on Thursday, with his wife Tara confirming his death to the Associated Press. According to Facebook posts, the pair married earlier this year.
A funeral for Vincent Kapoi is planned for Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Kapalama School Chapel at Kamehameha Schools, where he graduated, relatives said.
"What we do have to do, and must do, is honor his memory, keep him alive in our hearts and please keep him in your hearts and always remember good times," his sister said as she fought back tears. "May we ask for your respect and space in our time of grieving."
Kapoi leaves behind a wife and other relatives, according a fundraising website launched by his relatives to pay for his funeral.
He grew up in Waianae on the island of Oahu and came from a family of shipyard workers, according to Hawaii News Now.
He was proud of his Native Hawaiian and Filipino heritage and graduated from the University of San Francisco in 2011, his college roommate Daniel Vu told Honolulu Civil Beat.
"He was very giving, very generous, and willing to sacrifice a lot," said Vu, describing how Kapoi would wake up at 3 a.m. to work on the docks to pay for his college tuition.
His sister Theona described her brother as "that easy going, fun loving, 'let’s do this' man," in a statement read to media on behalf of the family.
"On the 4th of December, our lives changed forever," she told media. "The loss of a son, uncle, friend, husband and brother, my brother Vincent."
Agustin was born in Laoag City, Philippines, and moved to Hawaii when he was 2, according to his mother, Ida Agustin.
“He’s a good man,” she told the Associated Press through tears.
“I’m so sorry, anak ko; I’m still shaking,” she added Friday, using the phrase “my child” in Ilocano, a Filipino dialect.
Family members said Agustin served in the Navy and retired from the Army National Guard, then became a metals inspector at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
In a statement, his brother said Agustin enjoyed working on cars with his friends and spending time with family.
"He was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend to many," the Agustin family said.
Funeral arrangements for Agustin were not known as of Saturday.
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