Suspect arrested in Tanapag murder

Police arrested Tuesday night the suspect in the killing of a businessman during a robbery inside his store in Tanapag Sunday night.

A detective stated in his report that prior to the attack, a witness saw the suspect, Ezra Kaainoa De Leon Guerrero, put on a black ski mask and say: “This is good for Papa-san, no!” Police said the witness told investigators the suspect appeared intoxicated.

The detective said a minor also saw De Leon Guerrero enter the New Star Market and hit twice with a piece of wood the back of 65-year-old Jae Soung Shim’s head. The victim, also known as Papa-sang in the area, was reading something behind the cashier’s counter at the time.

Police served De Leon Guerrero with an arrest warrant issued by Superior Court associate judge Kenneth Govendo.

De Leon Guerrero, 25, a resident of Tanapag, was arrested for first-degree murder, armed robbery, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Govendo set no bail for the suspect’s temporary liberty. The defendant was taken to court yesterday afternoon for a bail hearing. Associate Judge David A. Wiseman ordered no bail as Govendo had earlier imposed. Wiseman set the preliminary hearing for May 27 at 9am.

Wiseman appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent the defendant in the case.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Eric David said yesterday the victim sustained multiple skull fractures.

David said Guam chief medical examiner Aurelio Espinola concluded that the fractures were a result of repeated blows to the head.

David said the Crime Stoppers Hotline Program received an anonymous call last Monday at 9am, relating to the murder at the New Star Market, during which several names of individuals were identified.

Following up on the tip, DPS Criminal Investigation Bureau personnel interviewed all the persons whose named were mentioned, leading to the arrest of De Leon Guerrero.

David said a canvas search was conducted near the crime scene and a 2.8 feet long tangan-tangan, a black long sleeve sweater with hood, a black ski mask, and two cases of Budweiser were recovered.

About $300 to $400 was also missing from the cash register, police learned.

Detective Christopher Leon Guerrero stated in his report that based on a witness’ account, the suspect was seen Sunday night picking up a firewood stick and walking toward the New Star Market.

When the suspect reached the front of the store, he put on a black ski mask but immediately removed it when a red truck passed by.

When the truck was gone, De Leon Guerrero allegedly put the mask on again, slowly walked inside the store, and hit the victim twice on the head with the tangan-tangan stick.

The suspect was later seen handing out bills to children at a house near the store. A witness heard the defendant saying that he just knocked out Papa-san.

De Leon Guerrero was later seen carrying a case of beer and had a drinking session with some people at a basketball court, which is also located a few blocks away from the store.

Shim was found by customers lying behind the cashier’s counter inside the New Star Market along Tanapag Avenue Sunday night.

Shim was no longer breathing when he was brought to the Commonwealth Health Center where he was pronounced dead at 1:08am Monday.

Shim was staying alone in the store’s premises. His immediate family members are reportedly in Korea. His daughter, who is in Michigan, is set to arrive on Saipan anytime this week.