Guam Police Department officers arrested Stefen Keanu Paulino Camacho, 26, relative to the shooting death of a 60-year-old Korean tourist in Tumon on Jan. 4. A second suspect reportedly took his life just as police had tracked him down.
GPD Chief Stephen Ignacio held a press conference around 11 p.m. Jan. 9 to update the media on the developments of the shooting that rattled the local community and thanked local businesses for their assistance.
Information from security footage belonging to about 20 different businesses helped police track the suspect vehicle, a 2011 silver Toyota 4Runner, Ignacio said. A concerned citizen also provided information that corroborated with what investigators had gathered. After identifying the “person in possession of the vehicle,” police searched for the vehicle, Ignacio said.
GPD detectives obtained a warrant for the vehicle and the suspects on Jan. 9. That evening, detectives and officers from the Special Operations Division executed the warrant in Yona and apprehended Camacho “who spoke of his involvement and role as the getaway driver,” Ignacio said. The vehicle was also located and impounded.
The second suspect was tracked down to a residence, he said. As police made their way toward a vehicle parked at the home, a single gunshot was heard from inside the vehicle.
Ignacio said police officers found the second suspect “deceased from a single gunshot wound discovered to be self-inflicted.”
“It is with great gratitude that we covey our thanks to the numerous businesses that contributed to this investigation,” Ignacio added. “Without their support we would not have come to a quick resolution. Their expeditious sharing of surveillance footage assisted detectives in their investigation. We are also grateful for citizens that have come forward and provided information and support in this investigation.”
Ignacio said GPD called the Korean Consulate Office to inform them of the arrest and asked they relay the information to the shooting victim’s wife who has since returned to Korea. She and her husband were in Guam celebrating his retirement.
It was the evening of Jan. 4 when the woman and her husband were walking along the road to Gun Beach near the Tano Tasi area in Tumon when vehicle pulled in front of them. A man climbed out of the passenger side and pointed a handgun at the couple but a struggle ensued. The man fired the handgun, shooting the male tourist, and fleeing with the purse. The tourist was transported to Guam Regional Medical City, where he died from his injuries.
The following day, police along with Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, Lt. Gov. Joshua F. Tenorio, and Carl Gutierrez, president of Guam Visitors Bureau, Attorney General Douglas Moylan, and In Kook Kim, Korean Consulate Head of Mission, came together for a press conference. The governor reassured locals and tourists alike that Guam is still a safe destination. She and Ignacio noted that police would be out in full force.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division began an investigation into the incident, while officers from the Operations Bureau, Highway Patrol Division, and Special Operations Division, Territorial Park Police deployed in the days after the incident in efforts to identify and locate the suspects responsible for this crime.
A $50,000 reward for information on the case also was offered. It wasn’t confirmed whether the individual who provided corroborating information will receive the amount.
At the Jan. 9 media update, Ignacio reiterated: “"Guam continues to be a safe destination ... in spite of this unthinkable crime." mbj
BREAKING NEWS: Police find shooting suspects; one arrested, 2nd suspect found dead
BREAKING NEWS: Police find shooting suspects; one arrested, 2nd suspect found dead
- Date Posted: Jan 09, 2024
- News: Guam