Blangiardi ‘disgusted' after Wahiawa playground equipment torched
OFFICE OF MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI Police are investigating an arson case after newly renovated playground equipment at Wahiawa District Park was burned Thursday night.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he is angry and disgusted after the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park was set ablaze Thursday night.
Honolulu police have opened an arson investigation.
Police said that at about 11 p.m., officers responded to a fire at the park and found the playground structure engulfed in flames. The Honolulu Fire Department determined an accelerant was used, and confirmed the fire was arson.
'I am angry, deeply disappointed and quite frankly disgusted by the senseless act of vandalism and arson that destroyed the newly renovated playground at Wahiawa District Park, ' Blangiardi said today in a statement. 'This was an investment in our community—especially for our keiki—and to see it deliberately torched just days after it was completed is nothing short of heartbreaking.'
He added, 'What happened here is not just criminal ; it's personal. It's a violation of trust and an attack on the spirit of our community. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. I have directed our teams to work closely with Honolulu Police and Fire investigators to bring those responsible to justice. And make no mistake—we will rebuild this playground.'
The mayor said the residents of Wahiawa deserve better and the city will restore the space to be stronger and more resilient than before because 'our keiki deserve nothing less.'
The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation officials said in a post that the playground had just been renovated in mid-March, and that they had installed new bouncy surfacing, with playful graphics, at a cost of nearly $121, 000.
Police said no suspect has been identified, and that the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the arson case is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300 or via the P3 Tips app.
36 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our.
Having trouble with comments ? .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Human remains found after Kapolei brush fire
Honolulu police said human remains were discovered early today after firefighters extinguished a brush fire in Kapolei. According to police, officers responded with the Honolulu Fire Department to a blaze just after 1 :30 a.m. in the area of 4451 Kapolei Parkway. After the fire was put out, remains were found inside a makeshift structure located within a known homeless encampment. The decedent's gender and identity remain unknown, police said. An unattended death case has been opened, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300. Tips can also be submitted through the P3 Tips app or at any police station. 13 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . Solve the daily Crossword
Los Angeles Times
10 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Woman suspected of shooting man at Huntington Beach store ID'd as store employee
A woman fatally shot Monday by sheriff's deputies in the city of South Gate after allegedly shooting at employees of a Huntington Beach California Closets, causing one man to be hospitalized, has been identified as a store employee, police report. Lucero San Pedro-Castro, 29, of Baldwin Park, was quickly identified as the shooter in the incident, which took place at 2159 Skylab Road at around 7:15 a.m. Monday. The two victims she shot at are also store employees, according to Huntington Beach police. Pedro-Castro fled the scene in a 2022 Toyota Corolla, as law enforcement agencies were alerted about the armed woman. The vehicle was spotted at around 9:30 a.m. by South Gate police officers, who attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the 8600 block of San Carlos Avenue, near Firestone Boulevard, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department reported Monday. The vehicle turned into a driveway during the stop. Pedro-Castro pointed a gun at a South Gate police officer approaching the vehicle, at which point the officer shot the suspect, according to a release issued Tuesday by the Sheriff's Information Bureau. Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics arrived and attempted to provide treatment, transporting Pedro-Castro to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries shortly before 10 a.m., Huntington Beach police spokesman Corbin Carson confirmed Tuesday. No other injuries were sustained during the incident. The police shooting is being handled by homicide investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, while Huntington Beach police are investigating the shooting on Skylab Road, Carson added. The relationship between Pedro-Castro and the individuals she shot at, including the man she struck, is still unknown. The victim, who was conscious and able to communicate as he was being hospitalized on Monday, is suspected to recover from his injuries, police report. Any inquiries regarding the Huntington Beach shooting should be directed to Detective Sgt. Anthony Pham at (714) 357-1183. Anyone with information about the police shooting in South Gate is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can reported to 'Crime Stoppers' by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the 'P3 Tips' Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or online at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man killed after trying to stop thieves from stealing his car in South L.A., authorities say
A 41-year-old man was fatally shot while trying to protect his car during an attempted theft in South Los Angeles, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department said. Deputies responded to reports of a gunshot victim Saturday about 9:20 p.m. in the 8000 block of South Hooper Avenue in unincorporated L.A. County. They found two wounded men in a nearby alley. One had been struck by gunfire in the upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene by the L.A. County Fire Department. The other man was taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg. Investigators learned that the men heard their car alarm go off in the alley where it was parked and spotted three people trying to steal the vehicle. When the men confronted the thieves, a fourth individual, who was standing near the alley's entrance, opened fire on them. One of the men returned fired in apparent self-defense, the Sheriff's Department said in a release. The thieves fled west on East 81st Street in a newer-model red or burgundy four-door coupe, officials said. No suspects had been arrested as of Sunday afternoon. Anyone who has information that could help in the investigation is asked to contact the L.A. County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477, download the "P3 Tips" mobile app on Google Play or the Apple store or visit the Crime Stoppers website. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
