HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — One suspect charged in connection to the fatal Thai Thai Healthy Cuisine restaurant shooting and robbery was confined on $500,000 cash bail, while the other suspect’s case was dismissed without prejudice.
Domingo Mendiola and Jenna Manibusan were charged Tuesday in the Superior Court of Guam for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting and robbery of Sumittra Lairopi at the restaurant on Valentine’s Day.
Mendiola and Manibusan, both 36, appeared before Magistrate Judge Jonathan Quan, who was to determine whether there was probable cause for the pair’s charges and if they should remain held at the Department of Corrections or be released.
For Mendiola, who was alleged to have been the shooter in the incident, Quan decided to hold him on $500,000 cash bail at the Department of Corrections.
However, for Manibusan, who was arrested on suspicion of complicity to commit aggravated murder, first-degree robbery and theft of a motor vehicle, Quan dismissed the case without prejudice, which resulted in the release of Manibusan from confinement. A case that is dismissed without prejudice may be refiled at another time.
Attorney Richard Dirkx from the Alternate Public Defender, who was appointed to represent Manibusan at the hearing, told The Guam Daily Post the dismissal was a result of Manibusan’s charging documents not showing probable cause to charge Manibusan.
According to the magistrate’s complaint, an unnamed witness told the Guam Police Department that Mendiola and Manibusan had planned to rob a different person before the Thai Thai robbery.
The complaint did not state that Manibusan was present at the time of the shooting or took off with Lairopi’s car afterward. However, the complaint states, Manibusan and Mendiola both “rummaged through a bag” taken from Lairopi’s car.
Acting Chief Prosecutor Gloria Rudolph from the Office of the Attorney General told the Post the prosecution will be looking to indict Manibusan “after further vetting of the information being received from GPD.”
Investigation
On Monday, before the arrests of Mendiola and Manibusan, it was confirmed that “several individuals” were in custody and questioned in connection to the Valentine’s Day shooting, Chief Stephen Ignacio said at a press conference.
Ignacio said that GPD got a “break in the case” after a vehicle, that was not Lairopi’s car, was located near the scene, which assisted police in finding the names of possible suspects.
Charging documents state an unnamed witness admitted to being aware of the robbery and shooting and that Mendiola “discussed a plan to rob someone.” The police investigation into the homicide remains open and ongoing.
On Tuesday, GPD spokesperson Officer Berlyn Savella said that officers were “out in the field working on the case furthering the follow-ups.” Savella told the Post on Wednesday that she has not received any new information regarding the investigation.
It is unclear if more arrests will be made. At the start of the investigation, GPD stated that there were two men who confronted Lairopi, and one of the men was wearing a white ski mask.
Charging documents did disclose details of the investigation that include allegations that Mendiola was wearing a white ski mask and attempted to open the locked doors of the Tamuning restaurant. Mendiola then allegedly shot Lairopi as she was leaving the restaurant and took off with her vehicle.
“The witness said defendant Mendiola needed money for an owed drug debt,” according to the complaint.
Victim
After sustaining a gunshot wound, Lairopi was taken to the Guam Memorial Hospital. She died Feb. 16.
On Wednesday, the Post learned that a GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for Lairopi’s funeral expenses, medical bills and to support her three children’s education and well-being.
Those wishing to donate are asked to visit www.gofundme.com/f/sumittra-w-lairopi.
Thai Thai Restaurant in Tamuning on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
