Defendant says
killing an accident

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Star-Bulletin staff

A Waipio man accused of shooting a friend to death with a stolen gun on Dec. 5 indicated that he fired the gun by accident, police said.

Jared Lee Williams, 20, told police that he was holding the gun in his right hand with the barrel pointed in the direction of Robert Rhoda Jr., 17, during a card game in his Waipio apartment when he "pulled the trigger and the weapon discharged," Detective Michael Tsuda said yesterday at a preliminary hearing.

Williams, Rhoda and two other males had just begun playing trumps at Williams' Waikalani Drive apartment when Williams picked up the gun, which he had stashed between some sofa cushions, according to Tsuda.

District Judge Russell Nagata ruled yesterday there was sufficient probable cause to try Williams on charges of manslaughter and use of a firearm in Rhoda's death.

Williams was also charged with first-degree theft, first-degree burglary and two drug offenses unrelated to Rhoda's slaying.

He will be arraigned Dec. 24 in Circuit Court.

Rhoda died of a gunshot wound to the chest after the bullet passed through his heart and lungs and became lodged under his skin.

Williams told police he had purchased the firearm from Rhoda, who had shown it to him two weeks prior.

Williams claimed Rhoda told him he stole the gun from a first-floor apartment in the same complex where Williams lived.

Williams said he bought the gun from Rhoda for cash and drugs, even though he knew it was stolen, Tsuda said.

Williams also said he and Rhoda agreed to go down to the apartment to see what else they could steal. They allegedly made off with a tape player and a couple of CD players.

Vincent Oliveira, who was one of the other two males present in Williams' apartment, said that shortly after the shooting, Williams told him and the fourth male, Angel Bonilla, to make up a story that they were driving past Wheeler Army Air Field when Rhoda got shot.

Oliveira said he was playing cards with the others but watching MTV and did not see how Rhoda got shot or see Williams pointing the gun.

Immediately after the shot rang out, Oliveira said he went to Rhoda's aid, telling him, "Robert, don't go."

Bonilla tried to put a cloth over the wound.

Oliveira said Williams made no attempt to help Rhoda or show any concern until police arrived.