Police arrest man, 21, in fatal Waikiki stabbing; 19-year-old victim identified
Honolulu police arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with Tuesday morning’s deadly stabbing of a tourist in Waikiki.
District 6 Crime Reduction Unit officers arrested the suspect identified in a police arrest log as Oscar K. Cardona near the scene of the stabbing on Kalakaua Avenue at about 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Cardona, a Waikiki resident, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in the death of a 19-year-old man.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim today as Elian De La Cerda of California. The cause of death was a stab wound to the chest and the manner of death was classified as a homicide.
The stabbing occurred near the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole statue at the intersection of Kalakaua and Ohua avenues at about 12:40 a.m.
Police said a man and his friend, 23, who was also visiting Hawaii from California, were confronted by a group of individuals. A fight ensued and the victim was stabbed in the upper body, police added.
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Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and pronounced the victim later identified as De La Cerda dead at the scene.
Police said an 18-year-old man and an unknown female struck the stabbing victim’s friend with a skateboard and assaulted him. He sustained a contusion to the head and a minor laceration to his hand in the affray and was treated and released at a hospital.
Police have made no arrests in the alleged assault of the friend, and said there may be more suspects involved.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
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