FBI joins DPS in probing homicide incident

The Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Bureau is currently working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the Jan. 2 homicide incident at the J&C Poker establishment in China Town, and is optimistic that it would soon make an arrest.

According to CIB officer-in-charge Edward Manalili, the FBI is assisting in the investigation, trying to enhance the quality of the video in hopes that a better picture will be made available.

Manalili said he believes authorities would be able to apprehend the suspect.

“Yes, we got the video and the picture of the individual, its just a matter of putting the name to that picture,” he said yesterday.

Manalili said investigators are also being assisted in printing flyers in the Chinese language to reach the Chinese community for tips.

He said investigators have received several tips on the case and they are currently “moving forward with the case.”

Footage from the scene are also being reviewed by investigators. Footage from days before the incident are also being reviewed. The footages, however, do not contain audio.

“We’re looking at the video right now, and the system they got…can record up to two weeks at a time, so we’re reviewing the videos.

He said the poor quality of the footage makes it hard for authorities to determine the age of the suspect.

Based on the investigation, Manalili said the crime occurred at approximately 7:30am. No one else was in the establishment, which operates 24 hours daily. The victim was discovered by another employee of the establishment who was reporting for work.

The identity of the victim has yet to be released pending authorization from the Attorney General Office.

“Its still a continuing investigation, and I need to work with the AG to get the authorization, once I get the okay, I’ll be releasing the name of the victim,” Manalili said.

Results from the recent autopsy on the victim have also yet to be released. Manalili said he has yet to receive the autopsy report.

Manalili also revealed that the gun the suspect was holding during the incident was a plastic toy.

Earlier, Police spokesman Eric F. David said the plastic gun broke during a struggle between the suspect and the victim. The suspect then used a sharp object to stab the 38-year-old victim, before fleeing with $7,000. The object, David said, was not found at the scene.

The victim died of several stab wounds and loss of blood.

David said the suspect is considered to be armed and dangerous and anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the DPS Criminal Investigation Bureau at 664-9042 or the NMI Crime Stoppers tips line at 234-7272 or *11 from any Verizon Cellular phone (toll free from Tinian and Rota). Information may also be submitted through its website at www.nmicrimestoppers.com.

Crime Stoppers pay up to $1,000 cash for information leading to an arrest. All tips remain anonymous and caller ID is not used.

Meanwhile, Manalili said evidence from another fatal poker robbery incident that occurred in Tanapag are back from the FBI lab.

“We’re looking at it again and hopefully we’re going to move forward again with the case,” he said. “We need to sit down again and look through the lab reports.”

DPS commissioner Santiago F. Tudela explained that information relating to homicide cases are not all disclosed to the media because of fears that it may jeopardize the investigations.

“The homicide is a very sensitive case and sometimes we cannot comment or reveal all the information because we don’t want to jeopardize the investigation. But if we’re done with the investigation and there’s a conviction, that’s the time we can give all the information, but for now, we have to withhold some of the information,” he said.