HONOLULU, HI – A prominent Instagram personality was tragically killed in a shooting incident near a Hawaii shopping center on Friday. The incident occurred just two days after a court had issued her a protective order against her husband, who later committed suicide, according to law enforcement and court records.
The fatal incident took place in a parking lot near Pearlridge Center in Waimalu, close to Honolulu. Responding to a report of a suspicious situation, Honolulu police arrived on the scene just after 10 a.m. to discover a 33-year-old woman, later identified as Theresa Cachuela, suffering from gunshot wounds, reported Lt. Deena Thoemmes.
During the shooting, a child was present, according to the police. Cachuela, known as “Bunny Bontiti” to her 20,000 Instagram followers, was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported in the vicinity, added Thoemmes.
The alleged perpetrator, Jason Cachuela, 44, had left the scene and was later found deceased in an area behind a Waipahu residence, approximately five miles from the mall. A firearm was recovered at the scene, according to the police.
The case is currently classified as a first-degree murder, and the investigation is still ongoing. Thoemmes emphasized that the shooting was not a random act, given that the victim and the suspect were married.
Court documents revealed that a judge had recently granted Theresa a temporary restraining order against her husband. The couple had been together for nearly 11 years. In her petition for the order, filed on December 8, Theresa claimed that Jason had threatened to kill himself in front of her and her children on December 6.
She alleged that he took her to a secluded location and held a knife to his throat, leaving her traumatized and frightened. Theresa also claimed that her husband continued to make suicidal threats even after apologizing to her the following morning.
Jason Cachuela was served with the notice on December 19, and the temporary restraining order became official on December 20. Both appeared in court that day and agreed to a one-year order, set to expire on December 20, 2024. As per the agreement, Jason was prohibited from contacting Theresa unless it was regarding their minor child, and he was ordered to surrender any firearms.
Theresa Cachuela’s mother, Lucita Ani-Nihoa, revealed that her 8-year-old granddaughter was the child who witnessed the tragic incident. She also stated that Theresa, a mother of three, had confided in her family about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband and was seeking help from organizations that assist victims of domestic violence.