On December 4, 2019, Vincent Jerome Kapoi Jr., a 30-year-old metals inspector apprentice at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Honolulu, Hawaii, was tragically killed in a shooting incident. The assailant, Gabriel Romero, a 22-year-old U.S. Navy sailor assigned to the submarine USS Columbia, opened fire on civilian employees at the shipyard, resulting in the deaths of Kapoi and another worker, Roldan Agustin, and injuring a third individual.
Romero subsequently took his own life.
Kapoi, a native of Waianae, graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 2007 and earned a bachelor's degree in business entrepreneurship from the University of San Francisco in 2011. He was known for his dedication and hard work, often waking up at 3 a.m. to work at fishing docks to support his education. In addition to his role at the shipyard, Kapoi was a licensed insurance agent and had started a podcast focused on financial management. He married his wife, Tara, in April 2019.
The shooting occurred near Dry Dock 2 at the shipyard, a densely populated area with thousands of workers. The entire incident unfolded in approximately 23 seconds. Romero, who was on duty providing security for the USS Columbia, used his service weapons—a rifle and a pistol—in the attack. Reports indicated that Romero had been unhappy with his commanders and was undergoing counseling at the time. The motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Kapoi's death deeply affected his family, friends, and colleagues. His sister, Theona, described him as an 'easy-going, fun-loving, 'let's do this' man' who will remain in their hearts. A celebration of his life was held on December 15, 2019, at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel on the Kamehameha Schools campus. In the wake of the tragedy, the community mourned the loss of a dedicated professional and beloved family member.
