A 'cruise' ends with a shooting

Records say Opherro Jones was shot while trying to rob a man

A 32-year-old man who was charged Sunday for allegedly kidnapping and robbing a 30-year-old man earlier this summer was convicted of similar charges 10 years ago, according to state records.

Opherro G. Jones, who goes by a dozen aliases that include Farrell Jones, Lopaka Puuala and James Puuala, appeared in Honolulu District Court yesterday on charges of kidnapping and first-degree robbery. He was being held in lieu of $100,000.

Jones has a lengthy criminal record that dates back to 1994, when he was 19. He was convicted of 12 felony offenses that include multiple kidnapping and first-degree robbery offenses, which occurred in October 1997, according to the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.

On June 15, according to a police affidavit, Jones pistol-whipped a 30-year-old man in an attempt to obtain money and drugs and then was wounded in the abdomen when the firearm went off.

At about 10 that night, the victim, 30, was picked up by an acquaintance to "go cruising." Police said the victim's acquaintance stopped by a Round Top Drive home to pick up two other men, including Jones.

When the victim got out of the car to allow Jones and the other man to get into the rear seats, both started punching and kicking the victim, according to the affidavit.

They forced him into the back seat and demanded money and drugs, the affidavit said, but police said the victim told them he did not have or could not get any.

At that time, Jones removed the victim's ruby ring and a white gold necklace and stole about $400 in cash, the affidavit said.

The men continued to punch the victim in the face until they reached a Kailua house, where Jones tied the victim's hands, the affidavit said.

One of three suspects grabbed a dark-colored bag from the home, which was later determined to contain a silver revolver and ammunition, the affidavit stated. Police said the man handed the bag to Jones.

All returned to the vehicle. While they headed toward Honolulu on Likelike Highway, Jones pointed a loaded revolver at the victim and made further demands for money and drugs, according to the affidavit. The victim again told Jones that he did not have any.

Police said Jones began to pistol-whip the victim on the head, causing him to bleed profusely. While he continued to assault the victim with the pistol, the revolver fired once, striking Jones in the lower right abdomen, police said.

The men dropped off Jones at the Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries. At the hospital, police questioned Jones about how he got shot, but he was uncooperative and provided several versions of how the shooting happened, said the affidavit.

Afterward the two other suspects dropped off the victim at his vehicle and threatened to kill him if he told anyone what happened.

At about 4 a.m. the following day, the victim drove home and called police.

Police said the victim identified Jones and the two other men in a photographic lineup. On July 5 one of the two men was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and first-degree robbery. He was released pending further investigation. It is unknown at this time whether the other suspect was arrested.

On Friday, police said, officers of the District 3 Crime Reduction Unit arrested Jones and a 19-year-old woman in front of the Coach store at Waikele Shopping Center on suspicion of possession of a prohibited firearm and detrimental drugs in the third degree.