8. John Miranda

Feb. 6, 1996

John Miranda, 28, entered his former place of employment, Seal Masters of Hawaii on Sand Island Access Road, at 6:55 a.m. Armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, he forced five employees to lie on the floor. Police arrived at 7:34. About 45 minutes later, Miranda shot company vice president Guy George in the leg. George later escaped through a window.

1. Miranda negotiated with police for hours, demanding $20,000, water and cigarettes. Police met his demands, but then the demands became irrational, police said. At 9:35 a.m. Miranda emerged from the building with a shotgun taped to employee Tom McNeil's neck. Throughout the day, police refused requests from Miranda's family to talk to him directly.

2. At 1:30 p.m., Miranda and his hostage moved down the stairs and into the open. At 2:26, Miranda began a countdown from 60, saying he would kill McNeil when he got to 0. When Miranda reached 13, McNeil twisted away from Miranda's gun. Miranda fired twice, but both shots missed.

3. Officers opened fire, hitting Miranda four times in the chest and abdomen. He died a short time later.

Aftermath The shooting was ruled justified.



Reporting By Jaymes K. Song
Graphics By David Swann
Star-Bulletin

Information taken from police and news reports.
Drawings are a Star-Bulletin artist's conception based on those reports.
Distances and relative locations are approximate.