Jury indicts in high-rise case
The age of the victim in the attempted murder case could factor in sentencing
An Oahu grand jury indicted a man accused of trying to throw a security guard off the 26th floor of an Ala Wai high-rise building on a charge of attempted murder yesterday.
The grand jury indictment also charges Joseph Joyce, 42, with attempted assault, attempted burglary and terroristic threatening. And because the victim of the attempted murder suffered serious bodily injury and is at least 60 years old, Joyce faces tougher penalties if he is convicted.
He remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Police said Joyce, who has no local address, attempted to break into a penthouse apartment of the Ala Wai Plaza at 500 University Ave. at about 5 p.m. Friday.
Resident Pierre Jaffuel said Joyce had apparently used a fire extinguisher to break the doorknob off a neighboring apartment's front door, then raised the fire extinguisher as if to hit him with it. Jaffuel, 77, said he went back into his apartment and slammed shut the metal gate to his front door.
He said Joyce hit the gate with the fire extinguisher, then sprayed him with fire-retarding foam.
Security guard John Lopis went to the 26th floor of the building after hearing of a possible fight and asked Joyce if he is a resident. Police said Joyce ran toward Lopis and pushed him into the window, shattering the glass.
Police said Joyce kept pushing Lopis and picked up his legs off the floor.
Lopis, 63, told police later that the window frame and glass pane prevented him from falling out. He suffered cuts over much of his body.
When police reached the 26th floor, they saw a trail of blood leading to the staircase. Officers outside spotted Joyce, who fled when they yelled at him to stop. They later caught him on Lauiki Street. He had blood on his head, hands and feet and a cut on a knuckle.
Deputy Prosecutor Vickie Kapp said Joyce told police he was injured in a fight with a security guard. Police took Joyce to a hospital to treat his injuries, and while there he told nurses that he got hurt trying to shove someone out of a window, Kapp said.
