A 29-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison without parole today for the Aug. 12, 2020 shooting death of a 31-year-old man who was working the door of an illegal Ala Moana gambling den.

Oahu Circuit Court Judge Faʻauunga Toʻotoʻo sentenced Aaron Arona Tuitelapaga, 29, for the murder of Sausau Togiai III, according to a news release from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.

Togiai was killed at what customers and police once referred to as the “Palama game room” at 1666 Kalauokalani Way near Don Quijote about 11:45 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2020.

Police said that night four men entered the game room and demanded money. Togiai confronted them and he was shot multiple times before the robbers ran away.

Tuitelapaga was also sentenced to serve 20 years for place to keep pistol or revolver and a life term for carrying or use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Tuitelapaga was convicted by a jury on July 5.

His sentences will run consecutively.

On August 12, 2024, Tuitelapaga, was armed with a handgun and opened fire during the robbery.

“This case is an example of how dangerous game rooms are and why they are such a blight on the community,” said Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm, in a statement. “We want to commend Judge Toʻotoʻo for the tough sentence and we will continue to work with the Honolulu Police Department and other partners to close these illegal games rooms and prosecute those who commit crimes at them.”

In 2023, HPD officers made 200 gambling arrests, 108 for operating, promoting or assisting gambling and 92 for gambling equipment violations.

Law enforcement officials are prioritizing the game rooms to target and make cases against the property owners and operators.

Game rooms near schools, churches or anywhere kids learn or play are first. The evidence needed to make cases can take two to three weeks or up to four months.

HPD’s Narcotics Vice Division has about 10 officers assigned to target and take down illegal game rooms.

Tuitelapaga also is awaiting trial for manslaughter along with three other Oahu Community Correctional Center inmates charged in the July 2023 beating death of fellow inmate Christopher Ikaika Vaefaga Jr., 36.

Vaefaga was found unresponsive in module 13 on July 6. Staff administered first aid and CPR until a medical examiner arrived and pronounced his death at 9:26 p.m. that night.