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Narc probe of van
led to suspects
in Kaneohe slaying

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

A search of a van involved in a narcotics investigation on Monday led police to the five suspects arrested for the slaying of a Kaneohe liquor store owner, detectives said today.

Police also said they recovered what they believe to be the weapon: a 9 mm gun that was dropped off anonymously at the Kaneohe police station last night.

Investigators are trying to match the gun and a shell casing recovered in the parking lot of Angie's Market on Kaneohe Bay Drive on Dec. 26, the day after the body of store owner Song Chol Marshall was discovered in a Waimanalo trash bin.

Detectives tied lighters, wine openers and batteries recovered from the search of the van involved in the narcotics case to items taken from Marshall, homicide Lt. Bill Kato said. The van was connected to one of the suspects arrested, he said.

Marshall, 45, was last seen on Christmas Eve after he had closed his store. His body was discovered Christmas Day.

His white 2000 Chevrolet Express van was found burned in Mapunapuna.

Four Kaneohe men, ages 28 to 33, were taken into custody Tuesday for second-degree murder and first-degree robbery.

The fifth suspect, 31, turned himself in last night after police asked the public's assistance in locating him. A friend, 22, also from Kaneohe, was arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution.

One of the five suspects is on probation until May 2004 for criminal property damage convictions.

"I feel better," said Joanne Kim, the owner of P&L Drive Inn next door to Angie's, after hearing about the arrests yesterday.

She described Song Chol Marshall as "hard working, a really good guy," and said she feels for Marshall's family.

"This place is a mostly safe place," said Kim. "I still don't understand."

"We're happy that we resolved it," said Police Chief Lee Donohue. "I received calls from the Korean community, especially the Korean Grocers Association. We assured them this case would be resolved, and I think for the entire community it's a relief, especially for the police officers, it's a relief that we have these people off the roadway."