LIHUE — The Kauai Police Department is asking the public for any information regarding the suspect who fatally stabbed a woman Thursday at First Hawaiian Bank in Lihue.
“At approximately 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Louis Elliot Landsman walked into the bank with a large, hunting-type knife and approached his mother, Charlene Landsman, an employee. The man stabbed her and then fled the scene on foot,” said Kim Tamaoka, spokesperson for the County of Kauai Friday in a press release.
Police, firefighters and medics responded to the scene, where medics transported the 69-year-old woman to Wilcox Medical Center in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead.
“A short time later, the suspect was located in the bank parking lot, where police took him into custody,” Tamaoka said.
The Moloaa man, 34, was arrested for murder in the second degree and currently remains in police custody, with bail set at $1 million. He is expected to be arraigned in court some time next week, where he will be formally charged, Tamaoka said.
Anyone with information on the events leading to and after the incident is asked to call KPD Detective Michael Nii at 241-1682.
First Hawaiian Bank’s Rice Street branch remained closed Friday, to give employees time to work through the loss of their team member. “We appreciate the community’s understanding as we work through this difficult time,” the bank said in a statement to The Garden Island.
Bank customers who need assistance may go to the Kukui Grove Center branch, or may call 1-888-844-4444 for assistance.
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Bethany Freudenthal, courts, crime and county reporter, can be reached at 652-7891 or bfreudenthal@thegardenisland.com.
First degree, premeditated murder! His own mother!!!
In broad daylight, in a bank?
God, help us all!