Family remembers beloved Kalihi store clerk killed in stabbing over unpaid drink
A well-liked neighborhood convenience store clerk was stabbed to death on the job, and her family and community are devastated and demanding more police presence in the area.
- Celeste Guzman, 66, a longtime clerk at a Kalihi mini mart, died after being stabbed, allegedly after confronting a 23-year-old man who opened and drank a beverage without paying.
- Neighbors describe her as generous with kids but tough on shoplifters, someone who had physically stopped people from walking out with stolen goods.
- The suspect was arrested and charged with murder and remains in custody.
- Residents say the store had ongoing problems with shoplifting and homelessness, and are calling for faster police response and tougher prosecution of repeat offenders.
- Guzman's family, many of whom live out of state, started a fundraiser to cover funeral costs.
Outlook: The case will move through the courts as community pressure grows for a stronger police and prosecutorial response to repeat offenses in the area.