Waianae residents are fed up with gun violence

By Kristen Consillio

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Waianae (KITV) — In just over a week, there have been at least three shootings in Waianae and many residents say enough is enough.

“It’s heartbreaking. I was very shocked,” Paula Greenleaf said. “My son is not the type of person who would resort to violence first.”

Paula Greenleaf’s son, Rastan “Jai” Brown-Castro, has been charged with the murder of Cheylo Chong-Tim at Waianae Boat Harbor.

This week alone, Alston Kaipo Awong was shot dead by police after he opened fire on his girlfriend’s family members, leaving three people hospitalized.

A day later, another shooting incident occurred, leaving a 15-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man in serious condition.

“Our community is heartbroken and shocked by the recent back-to-back shootings along our coastline and the increase in gun violence,” said Rep. Cedric Gates, who represents Waianae and Makaha. “There is a criminal element involving guns and gangs that we want to remove from our community.”

Gates is asking for help from federal, state and municipal agencies to get illegal guns off the streets.

“We’re in a new generation and a new era,” he said. “When I was growing up, people had guns, but now it seems like everyone has a gun.”

Greenleaf is devastated by the loss of her homeless son, Rastan, and the family of the man he is believed to have murdered.

“My son grew up here in the harbor where there is a lot of violence. There is a lot of drugs, it is really crazy there,” she said. “It is a completely different world there, very negative, it is not a place to grow up. I am sure he was trying to protect himself. He must have backed himself into a corner. He must have felt like there was no other option.”

Law enforcement has increased its presence in the harbor and along the entire Waianae coast.

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