Public calls for more police patrol in Tumon in wake of deadly shooting

Our KUAM team drove around Tumon around noon on Friday. It's sunny skies and tourists are out and about, taking pictures and enjoying the island’s scenery and shops.  

But there was one thing we did not see during the lunch hour rush.

There were no visible Guam police officers or Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) Visitors Safety Officers (VSO) driving or walking the streets.

This as the island now moves forward from the tragedy that occurred along Gun Beach Road one week ago. Despite the deadly incident, some locals still feel safe enough to come back to the tourist district.

A sentiment felt for Dededo resident Christopher Cano who was in the tourism district Friday afternoon. 

“I guess it’s just like a one in a million chance it would happen but it still happens but I do still feel safe especially when there’s a lot of people around,” Cano said.

Similarly, long-time resident Cecila Salas, who was also in Tumon today,  believes safety should remain on the top of everyone’s mind, regardless of location.

Salas shared, “It’s scary right now, you know what happened…Right now, it’s up to you, you know, the environment right here and everywhere else it depends on you. You need  to be careful wherever you go. You need to help yourself also, what happened, it’s really hard right now.” 

The concern comes after the Jan. 4 armed robbery.

As KUAM reported, a couple visiting from Korea were walking along Gun Beach Road when they were approached by a man holding a gun, demanding for the woman’s bag and struggling with the elderly male victim before the gun went off.

The men fled to a silver Toyota 4-Runner before speeding away.

The victim was then rushed to the Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) where he died from his injuries. 

The two responsible have since been located. Authorities arrested Stefen Keanu Camacho late Tuesday.

He's the man who allegedly drove the getaway car now facing charges for complicity to commit aggravated murder. 

The alleged gunman identified as Keoki Santos, died by suicide moments before officers were about to take him into custody at residential area in Yona. 

The gun Santos used, authorities believe, was also the murder weapon. 

While investigators learned the duo allegedly intended to rob tourists after losing money to gambling, Guam’s Attorney General called the recent murder drug-related.

The scare left many wondering what safety measures are being considered to protect all who are in Tumon. 

During our watch on Friday, we later spotted a VSO’s in Tumon walking around. 

Officers with Tumon Police Precinct told us since the incident, more patrols are being done. 

Guam Police Department (GPD) Spokesperson Officer Berlyn Savella told KUAM GPD was able to bring in additional resources to assist its manpower in Tumon since the deadly shooting. 

Savella said, “We are thankful to the park police for providing their officers during the investigation to beef up patrol. Since the capture and near closure of the investigation the additional resources inclusive of personnel from Highway Patrol Division, Special Operations Division, and the 13th Police Officer Trainee cycle all have since returned to their prospective assigned sections.”

She added the recently graduated park police were added to the security in Tumon.