Teen, 18, charged with Nimitz Hwy. shooting in June
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Prosecutors today charged a teenager with multiple felony offenses related to a June 29 highway shooting near Honolulu Airport in which 10 shots were allegedly fired at 11 young people in a pickup truck.
Shaw M. Awber, who turned 18 last month, was arrested by police at noon after Family Court waived its jurisdiction, clearing the way for him to be charged as an adult. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, carrying or use of a firearm in commission of a separate felony, and place to keep a firearm.
Awber is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail pending his initial appearance tomorrow at District Court.
Family Court also waived its jurisdiction over Awber in other criminal cases — first-degree criminal property damage, and two second-degree assaults — for which he was charged today as an adult. Bail is $100,000 for those offenses.
A court document related to the shooting case stated Awber was identified as the shooter by one of the nine girls, ages 14-18, in the 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck which was shot at on North Nimitz Highway. A pickup truck's 23-year-old male driver and his passengers were not injured.
Awber had been under Family Court jurisdiction from July 4 when he surrendered to police until today.
An affidavit filed at District Court today stated that pickup truck driver was taking the girls home from a party in Waipahu. He had dropped off one girl, who had received a call from her ex-boyfriend while at the party demanding she go home immediately.
After dropping the girl off about a block from her house because she feared the ex-boyfriend might be waiting for her, the pickup truck driver noticed a white Toyota Matrix following him. Two other vehicles — a silver Mercedes and dark blue Chevrolet Blazer — also began following on either side of the pickup truck, which went on the viaduct and was traveling 60-70 miles an hour in an attempt to get away from the vehicles.
The witness, who identified the shooter, was seated on the right front in the truck's bed. She alleges Awber pointed a "black gun" from the Blazer, which was to the left rear of the pickup truck, and fired 10 shots.
Four rounds penetrated metal on the pickup truck, according to the affidavit. Two rounds struck the passenger-side door and one of thosed passed through the door and entered the passenger compartment, hitting the side of the seat. Another round penetrated the right-front quarter panel while still another hit the right rear well.
Five people, including the driver, were seated in the cab of the pickup truck when the shots were fired.
The Blazer moved to the driver's side of the pickup truck and several more shots were fired, hitting the driver's side door in two places.
As the pickup truck was approaching the Hickam Air Force Base off-ramp, Awber allegedly shot again. The bullet hit the front tire and caused it to blow out while the pickup truck was going 60-70 miles an hour, making it difficult for the driver to control it, the affidavit stated. The driver continued on the wheel's rim.
Police responded at 1:40 a.m.
Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.