In Hawaii, a prisoner, Raita Fukusaku, was found dead in his cell at the Halawa Correctional Facility in Honolulu. Officials reported that Fukusaku, 59, had injuries to his head and neck. Law enforcement confirmed that Fukusaku was the victim of a violent assault and stabbing by his 38-year-old cellmate, who was swiftly relocated to another unit by prison authorities.
The investigation into Fukusaku’s death was ongoing as of Tuesday, with the official cause yet to be disclosed by the Honolulu medical examiner’s office. Fukusaku gained notoriety as the first Japanese national extradited to the U.S. and convicted of murder. He was serving concurrent sentences for two counts of second-degree murder.
In 1995, Fukusaku was convicted of killing Kototome Fujita and her son Goro Fujita. Kototome was found shot in her upscale apartment, while Goro was discovered dead in his car at a Waikiki hotel parking structure, both crime scenes later set on fire. Fukusaku’s lawyer, Myles Breiner, stated that his client had a peaceful incarceration, devoid of gang involvement and characterized by good relationships with prison staff. Breiner expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasizing that it should not have occurred.
