Honolulu's Don Quijote store on Kaheka Street was the site of a dramatic barricade incident yesterday evening, which came to a resolution when the suspect surrendered to law enforcement after a tense five-hour standoff. The confrontation began around 5 p.m. and led to the evacuation of the busy store, packed with shoppers and staff in the midst of the holiday rush.
According to KITV, the individual caused extensive property damage, smashing approximately 20 liquor bottles before attempting to start a fire. "I just finished some last minute Christmas shopping and ready to check out when someone started cussing. I started hearing liquor bottles and throwing them across the floor. Lots of glasses on the floor, probably like 20 bottles," Raquel Hicks, a witness at the scene, told KITV. The incident activated the store’s fire sprinkler system and culminated in the suspect's arrest on charges of arson and criminal property damage.
Hawaii News Now reported that the unidentified man barricaded himself in a storage room at the back of the store. He subsequently surrendered to the police without further incident at 10:10 p.m. Honolulu police utilized pepper spray moments before apprehending the individual, as detailed by a sergeant at the scene.
The community watched as the event unfolded, with a blend of those disrupted in their search for bargains, others arriving unaware to shop, and employees unsure of when they could return. "One worker down the road at the restaurant said, ‘You can’t go in. Somebody went cuckoo, throwing bottles in the aisles and stuff,'" Michael Brewster shared with Hawaii News Now. During the barricade, Kaheka and Poni streets were temporarily closed, reflecting the heavy police presence which included specialized services officers and a crisis negotiator.
