Hawaii police are questioning suspects after a 23-year-old Marine was stabbed and killed in Waikiki on Saturday.
Sgt. William Brown, an 81mm mortarman stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, was stabbed during a street altercation around 1 a.m. Saturday morning, according to police information reported by local outlet Hawaii News Now. The outlet reported that Brown was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died there.
In a Sunday statement, officials with Hawaii's 3rd Marine Division identified Brown, and said local Marine units are cooperating with the Honolulu Police Department's investigation into his death.
"Sergeant Brown was a beloved member of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, who had been with the unit for five years. He had qualities we value in our Marine non-commissioned officers. His death is tragic, and the battalion joins his family in grief," Lt. Col. Steven Eastin, battalion commander, said in a statement. "He will always be loved and remembered."
Hawaii News Now reports that multiple suspects have been taken into custody for questioning, including two teens and a 21-year-old, Brad Paul Aliksa, who was eventually released.
According to Marine officials, Brown, a Tennessee native, joined his unit in November 2012 and had just attained the rank of sergeant Oct. 1.
His awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
