Wahiawa resident Daryl Larocque recalled waking up to the sound of multiple gunshots near his apartment building during the early morning hours Sunday.
He initially thought the sounds were fireworks. “It woke us all up,” he said.
Soon after, police officers and Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived in his neighborhood, where a 34-year-old man later identified as William Tyrone Spencer was found in a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso.
The Honolulu Police Department is continuing to investigate the deadly shooting that occurred before 5:10 a.m. on the street at 69 Lakeview Circle near a two-story apartment building where Spencer lived.
Police said Spencer was sitting in a car when a man walked up and fired several shots into the vehicle. HPD Homicide Detail Lt. Deena Thoemmes said witnesses saw a man clad in dark clothing flee in a dark-colored vehicle.
Spencer was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Originally from Peterman, Ala., Spencer lived in a unit on the second floor of the apartment building. A father of five, he worked as a barber at the Exit-8 Barber Shop in Wahiawa over the past year.
Larocque, 29, who resides in a unit below Spencer’s apartment, said he knew the victim only as “Bam” or “Bama.”
“He was such a charismatic guy,” Larocque said, noting Spencer often had friends over at his apartment.
He recalled hearing at least five gunshots early that morning.
Exit-8 Barber Shop manager Ron De Leon learned of Spencer’s death after one of the other barbers called him Sunday. “I was just in shock,” he said. “I just didn’t believe it.”
De Leon said he was not aware of any conflicts Spencer had with anyone. “He’s just a good-hearted dude. People liked him,” he said, adding that he was honest and straightforward.
“He would help anybody.”
According to De Leon, he lived with his girlfriend and two young daughters — a toddler and a baby less than a year old.
Both Spencer and De Leon previously worked together at Trinh’s Barber Shop in Wahiawa. De Leon said he will be best remembered for having a big heart.
Trinh Van, owner of Trinh’s Barber Shop, described Spencer as entertaining, wild and energetic. He loved to socialize with his clients and co-workers. Van further described him as generous and always supportive of others.
Spencer worked at Trinh’s for approximately two to three years. When he began working at Exit 8, he regularly dropped by Trinh’s to say hello to Van and his former co-workers. Van recalled she last saw him Thursday when he stopped by.
“He looked happy,” she said.
Saddened by Spencer’s death, Van said, “I miss him very much.”
No arrests had been made in the deadly shooting as of Tuesday.
Although Spencer was separated from his wife, Whitney Travis, she said they remained good friends for the sake of their children. In a phone interview from Alabama, she called him a good father who would do anything for his family.
He often used FaceTime to communicate with their two daughters, ages 9 and 11, who live with Travis. “He has a strong bond with our daughters,” Travis said
She said she just wants justice for Spencer, urging the man who killed him to “do the right thing, turn yourself in.”
Anyone with information on the case is urged to call 911 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Correction: William T. Spencer was a father of five, not eight as was reported in an earlier version of this story and in Wednesday’s print edition. Also, this story has been updated from the print edition to include comments from his estranged wife.
