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By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
A police officer and investigators look toward the
Seaside Avenue area where a man was found
unconscious this morning behind a trash
container, near the scene of a rubbish fire.

Man found near
Waikiki fire may
be homicide victim

The man, of unknown
age and identity, was
believed to be homeless

---

By Jaymes K. Song
Star-Bulletin

Police are investigating an apparent homicide this morning in Waikiki.

A man was found critically injured in an alley fronting the Seaside Hostel, 419 Seaside Ave., at 6:03 a.m. by firefighters responding to a small rubbish fire.

Firefighters found the man lying unconscious in a trash bin area about five feet away from the fire, which included the man's wheelchair. He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where he died.

The man, whose age and identity were not immediately known, appeared to have been beaten, police said.

Nearby residents said they have seen the man visiting in the neighborhood and believe him to be homeless.

They said he used the wheelchair as a cart for his belongings, pushing it ahead of him as he walked.

A garbage collector said that at about 5 a.m. he unlocked a gate in the alleyway, which is behind Venus Exotic Dance club, and pulled a trash container to the street for collection.

The man and wheelchair were found in the area from which the trash bin had been moved.

Linda Williams, who lives nearby, said she heard someone yelling profanity at about 4:30 a.m. She didn't think much of it and went back to bed. She awoke to the smell of smoke and saw firefighters outside her apartment building.

No suspects had been identified as of this morning. Police also are investigating who set the fire.