WAIPAHU, HI – A 33-year-old beauty entrepreneur from Hawaii and mother of three, Theresa Cachuela, was tragically killed by her estranged husband, Jason Cachuela, 44, in a suspected murder-suicide incident, as per the local police. The fatal shooting occurred in the parking area of the Pearlridge Center in front of one of their daughters.
On the morning of the incident, the police responded to reports of shots fired at the mall. Upon arrival, they discovered that an altercation broke out between two groups. Initially starting out as a fistfight, the conflict had swiftly escalated into gunfire.
A spokesman for the police, Ira Cronin, explained that the deceased man found at the scene was certainly not involved in random violence; instead, he was embroiled in a personal dispute that turned deadly.
Three individuals were transported to a local hospital, where one man succumbed to severe gunshot wounds, another man was being treated for serious injuries from gunshots, and a woman was receiving medical attention for minor injuries.
Authorities have detained multiple people following the incident as they determine whether the shooter is amongst them. While the entire situation remains under investigation, they have reassured the public that there is no longer a threat to the community.
The tragic shooting came to light barely two weeks after Theresa was granted a petition for a protection order against her estranged husband. Before the gunman was discovered to be deceased, the police were looking into the incident as a first-degree murder case because of the existing temporary restraining order (TRO).
According to the TRO application, Jason had previously threatened to commit suicide in front of Theresa, further adding to her distress. Despite her attempts to help him, his threats of self-harm persisted.
Her grieving mother, Lucita Ani-Nihoa, expressed her sorrow on a GoFundMe page created to cover Theresa’s funeral expenses, blaming the justice system for failing her daughter. According to Lucita, Theresa had been a victim of abuse at the hands of her husband, and despite her pleas for help, the system had not done enough to protect her.