A Honolulu chiropractor fatally stabbed his wife and three children before taking his own life in Hawaii’s second-deadliest mass killing, according to reports and police.
Cops responding to a 911 call about an argument at the house in the city’s Manoa neighborhood early Sunday initially left when no one answered the door, Lieutenant Deena Thoemmes of the murder squad told a press conference.
Officers returned about 30 minutes later after getting a second call — and this time gained entry, finding the five bodies, including a 12-year-old boy and two girls, ages 10 and 17, according to the Star Advertiser
“Based on the evidence found at the scene and the investigation thus far, it appears that the adult male killed the female and the juveniles with the knife that was recovered at the scene,” Thoemmes said.
“The motive is still under investigation,” she said.
Although officials did not identify those involved, neighbors told KITV the killer dad was Paris Oda, a 46-year-old chiropractor who lived in an upstairs apartment with his stay-at-home wife, Naoko Oda, 48, who was slain alongside their kids.
One neighbor, Hiro Izumo, told the outlet that he had not noticed anything amiss with the family.
“They’re like the typical, really festive family, they dress up the house for the holidays and it’s normal,” one neighbor, Hiro Izumo, told the outlet.
Another neighbor, Aime Wakai, said: “It’s concerning,
“Neighbors are kind of scared,” said another local, Aime Wakai. “Usually we don’t have a lot of crime around here its real quiet, so everyone wants to be safe and make sure everyone is okay, but it’s just something that doesn’t happen here.”
There was no history of domestic calls at the home and police did not have a motive for the killings, the murder squad lieutenant said, but witnesses told police there had been an argument there early Sunday.
The five deaths mark Hawaii’s worst mass killings since Nov. 2, 1999, when Bryan Koji Uyesugi fatally shot seven Xerox co-workers, including his supervisor, Police Chief Joe Logan said.
He said he went to the scene to provide moral support to his shaken officers but did not enter the home.
“I feel for those officers and what they will see and really understand within their mental faculties for the rest of their lives,” he said.
“This will have an impact on them as it would any officer for the rest of their life,” the chief added.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement that he was “heartbroken by the tragic incident … claiming the lives of an entire family, ” Hawaii News Now reported.
“This inexplicable tragedy has deeply shaken our community,” he said. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends grappling with this profound loss.”
Manoa Elementary School told parents in a letter that a crisis intervention team will be on campus to provide comfort to students and staff.
The private college prep Iolani School said it would have gatherings for students, faculty and staff on Monday, as well as counseling throughout the week.
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