BY JIM DOOLEY – The knife recovered by police at the site of an early morning fatal shooting in Waikiki belonged to accused killer Christopher Deedy, a U.S. State Department security officer now facing a second-degree murder charge, Deedy’s lawyer said today.
Deedy, 27, appeared briefly in state District Court this morning following his indictment yesterday on a charge of murdering Kollin Elderts, 23, during an affray between the two men at 3 a.m. November 5 in a Kuhio Avenue McDonald’s restaurant.
Deedy, accompanied by his wife, had no comment.
His lawyer, Brook Hart, said that a physical altercation occurred between the two men because Elderts, of Kailua, “was harassing and bullying” patrons in the restaurant.
Deedy allegedly fired three rounds with his service weapon during the affray and one bullet struck Elderts in the chest.
Hart said the pocket knife recovered by police at the scene was used by Deedy to open Elderts’s shirt before performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation on the victim after he was shot.
Hawaii Reporter incorrectly reported November 8 that the knife belonged to Elderts and that he used it to threaten Deedy.
Deedy was in Honolulu to help provide protection for dignitaries attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.
Deedy was accompanied to the restaurant by at least two other individuals, one of them a former college roommate of
Deedy’s who was “slashed” on the forehead during the McDonald’s affray, Hart said.
Hart said he did not know what caused that wound and is waiting to review evidence used by police to charge Deedy with murder before commenting further on the case.
Deedy is also charged with using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Attorney Michael Green, who represents Elderts’ family, has said that Elderts was in McDonald’s with a friend when a disagreement developed with Deedy.
Deedy asked Elderts “Do you want to get shot?” before kicking Elderts in the chest and then shooting him during a scuffle between the two men, according to Green.
Deedy will be arraigned November 21 in Circuit Court on the murder and gun charges.