PEARLRIDGE, HI – A woman was fatally shot in a Pearlridge Center parking lot near a major shopping center during peak hours on Friday morning. The incident was reported to the police around 10 a.m. as suspicious activity. However, authorities found the woman, 33-year-old Theresa Cachuela, with fatal gunshot wounds upon arrival.
Medical personnel declared Cachuela dead at the scene. Following the incident, the police initiated a manhunt for Theresa’s estranged husband, 44-year-old Jason Cachuela, marking him as a person of interest. Hours later, Jason was found dead behind a property in Waipahu with a discharged firearm at the scene. The case is now registered as a first-degree murder.
Described by her family as a devout person who deeply loved her children, Theresa had been in the company of her 11-year-old daughter earlier that morning. They were planning to visit a bank when the estranged husband made his appearance in the parking lot, subsequently causing a fatal altercation.
Despite the tragic event, Tyzen Gante, Theresa’s 15-year-old son shared that his mother is now in a better place. The family revealed that Cachuela had recently filed a temporary restraining order against her husband, effectively finalized this week, which included a stipulation compelling him to yield any firearms in his possession.
Theresa had separated from Jason and moved out of the house they shared about one year ago. In her request for a restraining order, she indicated that Jason had threatened to take his own life and had started making unannounced visits to her new home. The restraining order against the suspect was issued on Dec. 8, with the police confiscating all five of Jason Cachuela’s registered firearms by Dec. 11.
Michael Green, Jason’s Attorney, commented on his shock over the tragic event. Green acknowledged that Jason had understood the need to avoid contact with Theresa, relinquish his firearms, and agreed to arrange visitations for Christmas Eve with his daughter.