Prosecutors have charged a suspect with second-degree murder and first-degree arson following the discovery of a body in a burned-out car in Mililani.
Samuel Jones, 25, is accused of killing a woman and allegedly setting a car on fire at Mililani High School on Monday. His bail is set at $1 million.
The family has identified the victim as Laau Jordan Laulusa, 21. They say she died from a stab wound to her neck.
Her body was found after witnesses reported the car fire just before 7 a.m.
A memorial is growing near the site where Laulusa’s body was found.
It was set up along the fence at Mililani High, with balloons, flowers and signs that say, “until we meet again.”
Laulusa was a supply specialist in the Hawaii Army National Guard.
Our Aloha and prayers are with her ‘ohana (family) and those who knew this soldier personally and professionally,” Brig. Gen. Stephen Logan, commanding officer of the Hawaii Army National Guard, said in a statement.
“This is a tragic loss for the entire Hawai‘i Army National Guard. We are cooperating with authorities during the ongoing investigation,” he added.
Laulusa joined the military in 2019. She worked as a supply specialist for the 227th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, according to the National Guard.
HPD Lt. Deena Thoemmes said witnesses told arriving officers that they noticed a man around the burning car who had been “opening and closing doors during the fire and then fled on foot.”
She added, “Witnesses continued to follow that male until the other officers arrived.”
Witnesses also reported that when the suspect was walking away from the burning vehicle, he was carrying some type of “blade” or weapon.
