Alleged teen shooter
is suspected in rapeMiti Maugaotega Jr. is also
a suspect in at least three other cases
The 17-year-old male who was charged with attempted murder in a Punchbowl burglary last month is also the suspect in an earlier rape and robbery at a Honolulu high-rise building.
Miti "Junior" Maugaotega Jr. faces three counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of robbery as a juvenile for a June 23 break-in on Kanunu Street. Police said the suspect woke up the victim, demanded money, then sexually assaulted her.
When the suspect left the room to search another part of the apartment, the victim ran out the front door. The victim told police the suspect caught her in the apartment building's stairwell, struck her on the head with his handgun and left.
Initially, police reports did not say the victim was sexually assaulted. Police said the victim came forward with that information later.
Three days after the Kanunu Street incident, police arrested Maugaotega after he allegedly shot 43-year-old Eric Kawamoto at Kawamoto's Puowaina Drive home. Police said Kawamoto surprised Maugaotega as he was burglarizing the home.
Police charged Maugaotega with attempted murder, robbery and burglary, along with firearm and drug offenses in the Kawamoto case.
Police said Maugaotega is also a suspect in a June 16 home-invasion robbery on Waikahalulu Lane and at least two other burglary/robbery cases in police District 5, which includes Nuuanu, Kalihi, Mapunapuna and Salt Lake.
Police are also attempting to match Maugaotega's fingerprints to other similar cases.
Maugaotega was being held at the Alder Street juvenile detention facility. His public defender confirmed yesterday that he has since been relocated, but would not say where.
A Family Court hearing to decide whether Maugaotega will be tried as an adult for the attempted-murder case is scheduled for Aug. 27.