Suspect charged in deadly Honolulu shooting spree

HONOLULU – A 28-year-old man was charged with murder and attempted murder in a freeway shooting rampage in Hawaii that left one woman dead and two people injured, officials said.

The Honolulu Prosecutor's Office charged Toby Stangel of Haleiwa Saturday night in the shootings a day earlier that spanned a wide area of Oahu, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on its website.

Stangel's bail is set at $5 million and his initial court appearance was scheduled for Monday.

He was charged with 15 felony counts including murder in the second degree in the death of 54-year-old Tammy Nguyen, who was the mother of 10. He was also charged with seven attempted murder counts and various firearms violations, the office said in an email to the newspaper.

The two people wounded Friday, 24-year-old Amie Lou Asuncion of Kalihi and 38-year-old Samson Naupoto of Salt Lake, are recovering in hospitals.

Five others were shot at but they weren't injured.

Police say the shooting spree lasted just 17 minutes and appeared to be random, with none of the victims knowing the suspect.

It began at 12:43 a.m. Friday when Stangel got out of his car, walked up to vehicles stopped in an intersection and opened fire, according to police.

Nguyen, of Palolo, was shot to death in her van while her 16-year-old daughter sat beside her.

Stangel is accused of opening fire again about 10 minutes later on the H-1 freeway, the major artery in Honolulu, shooting Asuncion twice in the shoulder as she drove to work. Naupoto was also shot while driving to work.

Police say a short while later the gunman fired at two police officers who were conducting a traffic stop but no one was hurt.

Stangel was arrested after he was spotted in his stopped BMW at about 1 a.m. on the freeway in Aiea, police said.

Mike Stangel, the suspect's father, is the pastor of North Shore Christian Fellowship, which has about 400 members.

The newspaper said Stangel's parents issued a statement Saturday: "We are broken and sick with grief. Our hearts and prayers go out to the innocent families who have been affected by this tragic act. We wish we had an explanation, but there simply is none. Those who know us, know we have always loved our son with an unconditional love. We thank all of you who have sent us your love, prayers & support. We are looking to the Lord Jesus for guidance, strength & comfort."