4 charged in killing gaming worker

Police have charged the four men arrested in connection with the killing of a Chinatown gambling house employee.

Alexander Nguyen, 31, Maauga Imoa, 24, Manu Tonga, 21, and Sione Vulangi, 26, were each charged with second-degree murder and felony kidnapping. Bail for each man was set at $1 million.

Detectives believe the suspects, who work at various illegal gambling establishments, beat a 42-year-old man on April 1. Police said the man worked at a gambling house and stole money.

A friend found the man’s body in the parking lot near the basketball courts at Moanalua Community Park April 1 and took him to the hospital, where he died shortly before 1 a.m. on April 2. He had suffered head injuries.

Police issued a CrimeStoppers bulletin asking for the public’s help in finding out what happened to the man and released a picture of a large tiger tattoo on the man’s back.

Detectives followed up on leads and arrested Nguyen at the main police station on Beretania Street at about 5 p.m. Friday. The three other men were arrested about 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon at the main station.

The Medical Examiner’s Office said the victim’s name was being withheld, pending notification of next of kin. An autopsy did not determine the cause of death and further test results were pending.

Woman dies in SUV crash in Kona

An 18-year-old woman was killed and three others injured in a single-vehicle crash yesterday on the Big Island.

The crash happened on Ahulani Street in Kona about 2:40 a.m. Firefighters found a damaged SUV that they suspect rolled over, and the driver was trapped inside with no signs of life.

Firefighters also found a 15-year-old girl sitting in a driveway and a 21-year-old man who ran down the street. A 19-year-old man, who apparently had been drinking, was uncooperative and combative and ran in the opposite direction. All three were taken to the hospital.

Firefighters had to remove the driver’s side door to extricate the woman.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Puna man charged in stabbing

Big Island police have charged a Puna man who was arrested Wednesday in a stabbing on March 25 at Glenwood Park.

Richard Broyles, 50, was charged Friday with first-degree assault and attempted second-degree murder.

On March 25 about 1:20 p.m., Puna patrol officers responded to a report of an assault at Glenwood Park off Route 11. Police and Fire Department rescue personnel found a 46-year-old Volcano man with a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center and underwent surgery.

Broyles was being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $250,000 bail.