By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
A 33-year-old Garapan man has been arrested and charged with murder following an altercation late Friday night that left a 45-year-old man dead along Asusena Avenue.
The Department of Public Safety identified the victim as Sheldon Kaianoa, 45, of Garapan.
According to DPS, Kaianoa and the suspect — Binwei Zhang Secharmidal, also known as Joe Secharmidal — had been drinking together at a local establishment in Garapan shortly before the incident. Witnesses told investigators the two men were seen leaving the area on foot after the drinking session.
While walking along Asusena Avenue, an argument reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation.
At 11:23 p.m. on May 2, DPS 911 Dispatch received a report of a disturbance in the area. Responding officers found an unresponsive man lying on the roadway near the BenCam Building with multiple injuries. The second individual involved had fled the scene before police arrived.
Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel administered CPR and transported the victim to the Commonwealth Health Center, where he was later pronounced dead by the attending emergency room physician.
Investigators later located Secharmidal in Susupe. He was taken into custody, transported to DPS Headquarters for questioning, and has since been formally arrested and charged with murder.
The case remains under active investigation. DPS is urging anyone with information to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (670) 664-9000.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
