HONOLULU (AP) - Honolulu police are looking for a motive in the stabbing death of a man who sold newspapers on a city street for nearly two decades.
Thaddeus “Ted” Pirga Jr., 70, a retired welder, was found mortally wounded early Sunday morning on the sidewalk along Waialae Avenue, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (https://bit.ly/1tU8U0z) reported.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Pirga’s daughter, Tracy Dwire, by phone from her home in Las Vegas. “I just Skyped with him the other day. He was just lively and happy-go-lucky as usual, and now he’s gone.”
Police have no suspects in the case, said Lt. Walter Calistro.
A caller notified police of a man needing help at 3:40 a.m.
Officers found Pirga on the sidewalk in front of Cafe Miro, Calistro said. Paramedics rushed him to a hospital, where he died.
Dwire said her father’s wallet and keys had not been taken.
The family had a long history of selling Sunday newspapers at the location.
Pirga’s father, Thaddeus Pirga Sr., started selling the Honolulu Advertiser there about 40 years ago, Dwire said, as he shared his faith as a Jehovah’s Witness.
After the elder Pirga died, Ted Pirga Jr. began selling papers in the late 1990s. He didn’t do it for the income, Dwire said.
“My dad was just Mr. Aloha,” Dwire said. “It gave him joy to talk to all these people who would meet him in the morning.”
Pirga would leave home around midnight, receive newspapers early in the morning and sell them until about 11 a.m., she said. The family had no concerns for his safety in the dark because he was so widely known.
Faith Hirao, a resident of the Kaimuki neighborhood, said Pirga would tip her off to her approaching bus. He clipped coupons for another resident.
“A lot of people love him,” Hirao said. “I’m going to really miss seeing him.”
Jennifer Muehle bought a paper from Pirga every Sunday. She left a bouquet where he died.
“He gave so much to this community,” Muehle said. “He was just the sweetest guy, and he had a big smile on his face all the time.”
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Information from: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, https://www.staradvertiser.com
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