|
|
|
|
|
Byran UyesugiByran Koji Uyesugi (born 1959) was a former Xerox service technician in Honolulu, Hawaii who was convicted of killing seven of his co-workers on November 2, 1999, in what has been called the Xerox murders, the worst mass murder case in the history of Hawaii. The case also heightened awareness of workplace violence in Hawaii and elsewhere. Early life Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Uyesugi lived in the Nuuanu neighborhood of Honolulu. While attending Roosevelt High School, Uyesugi was a member of the school's JROTC chapter and was a member of the school's riflery team. Classmates remembered him as a quiet student who never got into trouble. Uyesugi had been employed by Xerox as a technician since 1984. Among his hobbies was raising and breeding goldfish, which he would sell to local pet stores. He also had an extensive collection of firearms, and at the time of the murder had as many as 25 guns registered in his name dating back to 1982. Trouble at work Uyesugi's troubles apparently began soon after he was transferred to another workgroup. Former co-workers who knew him reported the other members of his team allegedly ostracized him, making him feel isolated and withdrawn. His anger was such that he reportedly made threats against other co-workers' lives. In 1993, he was ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation and anger management courses after he kicked in and damaged an elevator door. The psychiatrist who examined him at the time found that Uyesugi suffered from a delusional disorder and paranoia, but found him not to be dangerous. (In 2005, Xerox and the hospital that examined Uyesugi settled a lawsuit brought by the families of the shooting victims, who felt that both had ignored clear signs of Uyesugi's mental instability.) The day of the shooting On the morning of November 2, 1999, Uyesugi reported to work at the Xerox building and opened fire with a Glock semi-automatic handgun, killing his supervisor and six co-workers and firing in the direction of another co-worker who fled the building. After the shooting, Uyesugi fled in a company van. Police closed down several streets in downtown Honolulu as they investigated the crime scene. By mid-morning, the police had Uyesugi cornered in the mountains above downtown Honolulu. After a nearly five-hour standoff, Uyesugi surrendered to police shortly before 3 p.m. Victims - Christopher Balatico, 33
- Ford Kanehira, 41
- Ronald Kataoka, 50
- Ronald Kawamae, 54
- Melvin Lee, 58
- Peter Mark, 46
- John Sakamoto, 36
Trial and incarceration Forty-year-old Byran Uyesugi's month long trial began on May 15, 2000. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and claimed that he felt like an outcast at work and that he feared his colleagues were conspiring to have him fired. The jury found him sane and guilty of seven murders and one attempted murder. Hawaii does not have the death penalty and so Uyesugi received a sentence of life without parole. Uyesugi, Byran
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|