1999 — Nov 2, Workplace Shootings of Xerox co-workers, Honolulu, HI — 7

–7  Barayuga. “Xerox Shootings. Grand jury indicts Uyesugi for fist-degree murder.” 11-9-1999.

–7  Barayuga. “Xerox Shootings. Survivors emerge as key witnesses.” Star Bulletin, 5-16-2000.

–7  Blanco, Juan Ignacio. Murderpedia. “Bryan Koji Uyesugi.” 9-14-2014 modification.

–7  Bricking, Tanya. Honolulu Advertiser. “Uyesugi appeal likely to fail.” 7-1-2001.

–7  Duwe, Grant.  Mass Murder in the United States: A History. McFarland, 2007, p. 116.

–7  Waite, David. “2 murder convictions upheld.” Honolulu Advertiser, 12-27-2002.

–7  Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Seven Killed in Hawaii Shooting.” 11-3-1999, p. 1.

 

Narrative Information

 

Nov 3: Honolulu — In the latest outburst of workplace violence, a Xerox copier repairman shot and killed seven coworkers in his office building Tuesday morning, authorities said.  He surrendered after a five-hour armed standoff with police.  Police believe Byran Uyesugi, a 15-year Xerox employee, shot seven fellow copier technicians at about 8 a.m. (noon CST) before fleeing in a company van with a gun.  He eventually stopped several miles away in a leafy, residential neighborhood.  Police cordoned off the neighborhood and began negotiating with him about two hours later.

 

“About five hours after the shooting began, Uyesugi emerged from the van, walked to the back of the vehicle with his hands raised and then fell down on the ground.  His brother had helped in the negotiations.  SWAT teams raced toward him with automatic weapons drawn.  No shots were heard and no injuries were reported.  “It appears as though it was a disgruntled employee who snapped,” Mayor Jeremy Harris said.  Police, though, would not comment on a motive.  Uyesugi, 40, was being booked for investigation of first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory penalty of life without parole.

 

“The gunfire erupted in an industrial section of Honolulu, far from the Waikiki tourist district. Five victims were found dead in a conference room and two other bodies were found nearby. All had been shot with a 9mm handgun, authorities said.  Police found 20 9mm shell casings at the scene. At Uyesugi’s home, they found 11 handguns, 5 rifles and two shotguns.

 

“The victims – male Xerox employees – were shot on the second floor of the two-story building, authorities said.  They ranged in age from 33 to 58….”  (Wisconsin State Journal, Madison (Bruce Dunford, Associated Press). “Seven Killed in Hawaii Shooting.” 11-3-1999, p. 1.)

 

Nov 3: “Honolulu….By late morning in Makiki Heights, a residential neighborhood near the shooting scene, negotiators were talking with the suspect through a bull horn.  He was seen pacing back and forth outside the van.

 

“Police cordoned off a half-mile area around his van, which was near the Hawaii Nature Center.  About 60 fourth-graders and 12 chaperones were on a nature hike when police told them to get to higher ground.  A school bus with two rifle-toting police officers then took the students to safety.  A separate group of first-graders on a field trip also were evacuated in the afternoon.”  (Frederick Post, MD. “Man accused of killing 7 co-workers at Xerox.” 11-3-1999, p. 1.)

 

Nov 5: “Washington – Associated Press — Workplace shootings in Honolulu and Seattle this week prompted Vice President Al Gore and congressional Democrats to renew pressure on Republicans, accusing them of stalling gun legislation.  Republicans say enforcement is the solution, not more laws.

 

“Gore descended the Senate stairs for the cameras Thursday and promised to give gun control a prominent role during his bid for the White House.  “This is going to be a national issue all over the United States of America,” Gore said.  “The leadership of the majority, the Republican Party, in the Congress today is frustrating the will of the American people by refusing to take up legislation that the American people support,” he added. “How many tragedies does it take before the members of the Republican leadership bottling up this legislation get the message?”

 

“Republicans, who have been unable to reach compromise between gun restrictions passed by the House and Senate, have accused the vice president of being part of an administration that has presided over an increase in mass shootings.  “This administration, as a policy, is putting gun-toting felons on the streets in record numbers,” National Rifle Association President Charleton Heston told the House Government Reform Committee’s panel on criminal justice, drug policy and human resources.  Hollywood’s resident pro-gun activist said the White House lacks “the time or the spine” to enforce current laws. “Why does the president ask for more federal gun laws if he’s not going to enforce the ones we have?” Heston asked.

 

“The legislation in question has been stalled since early summer, but the dispute flares up with each new mass shooting.  After the Columbine High School killing spree that left 14 students and a teacher dead, the House and Senate passed competing versions of a juvenile justice bill that contains new gun restrictions.  The Senate passed a series of provisions to require background checks at gun shows.  But a similar set of proposals died in a crossfire in the House when Republicans complained the measures were too strong and some Democrats griped they were too weak.

 

“Efforts at a compromise have moved fitfully since. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde of Illinois has sought middle ground by proposing a two-step system of background checks that would clear most gun show sales within 24 hours. It also would ban the import of some large capacity ammunition clips and require the sale of safety-devices with handguns. Anyone convicted of a gun-related felony as a child would be banned for life from handgun ownership.

 

“Hyde’s proposal has gone nowhere in Congress’ rush to adjourn for the year.  Democrats say the plan doesn’t go far enough to bar gun sales without background checks. Republicans say Democrats are blocking compromise efforts to preserve a campaign weapon.  “Please do not let a desire to exploit a political issue undermine this unique opportunity to protect America’s children,” Hyde wrote in a letter Thursday to Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.” (Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Democrats cite shootings, press for gun legislation.” 11-5-1999, A12.)

 

Nov 9:  “An Oahu grand jury today returned a first-degree murder indictment against alleged gunman Byran Uyesugi, 40, for the deaths of seven co-workers in Hawaii’s worst multiple slaying case.  The grand jury convened this morning almost one week to the hour after the murders of Melvin Lee, Ron Kawamae, Ron Kataoka, Peter Mark, Ford Kanehira, John Sakamoto and Jason Balatico in the Xerox building on Nimitz Highway….” (Barayuga. “Xerox Shootings. Grand jury indicts Uyesugi for fist-degree murder.” Star-Bulletin, HI, 11-9-1999.)

 

Aug 8, 2000: “Sentenced to life in prison without parole…” (Blanco. Murderpedia. 9-14-2014.)

 

July 1, 2001: “Legal observers in the case of Hawai’i’s most notorious mass murder say Byran Uyesugi doesn’t have a chance of overturning his conviction in the Xerox killings….Uyesugi, 41, a former copy-machine repairman, was sentenced 10 months ago to life in prison without parole, Hawai’i’s harshest sentence, for killing seven co-workers in a 1999 shooting rampage.  A jury rejected the defense argument that he was criminally insane at the time of the crimes and that he was haunted by a spirit that poked at his head and filled his mind with ideas about having FBI agents after him….” (Bricking. Honolulu Advertiser. “Uyesugi appeal likely to fail.” 7-1-2001.)

 

Dec 27, 2002:  “The Hawai’i Supreme Court upheld the murder convictions of two of Hawai’i’s most notorious killers — Byran Uyesugi, who gunned down seven of his Xerox coworkers in a Nimitz Highway warehouse in 1999, and Frank Pauline Jr., who took part in the 1991 slaying of 23-year old Dana Ireland in the Big Island’s Puna district…. The multiple murders by Uyesugi, a disgruntled copy machine repairman who had a history of anger control problems, shocked Hawai’i and made many employers reevaluate their policies on problem employees.”  (Waite, David. “2 murder convictions upheld.” Honolulu Advertiser, 12-27-2002.)

 

Sources

 

Barayuga, Debra. “Xerox Shootings. Grand jury indicts Uyesugi for fist-degree murder.” Star-Bulletin, HI, 11-9-1999. Accessed 3-3-2013 at: http://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/11/09/news/story1.html

 

Barayuga, Debra, and Suzanne Tswei. “Xerox Shootings. Survivors emerge as key witnesses.” Star-Bulletin, HI, 5-16-2000. Accessed 11-23-2015: http://archives.starbulletin.com/2000/05/16/news/story1.html

 

Blanco, Juan Ignacio. Murderpedia. “Bryan Koji Uyesugi.” 9-14-2014 modification. Accessed 11-23-2015 at: http://murderpedia.org/male.U/u/uyesugi-byran.htm

 

Bricking, Tanya. Honolulu Advertiser. “Uyesugi appeal likely to fail.” 7-1-2001. Accessed 3-3-2013 at: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Jul/01/ln/ln04a.html

 

Duwe, Grant. Mass Murder in the United States: A History. McFarland, 2007.

 

Waite, David. “2 murder convictions upheld.” Honolulu Advertiser, 12-27-2002. Accessed 3-3-2013 at: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Dec/27/ln/ln05a.html

 

Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Seven Killed in Hawaii Shooting.” 11-3-1999, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=164482235&sterm=xerox+honolulu