Guam police officer arrested in death of another officer

Kyle Daly and Masako Watanabe | (Guam) Pacific Daily News

YIGO, Guam — A 30-year-old Guam Police Department officer was arrested Monday on suspicion of murdering another police officer.

Department spokesman A.J. Balajadia said Officer Mark Anthony Torre Jr. of Yigo, in the northern part of the U.S. territory, was arrested in the shooting death.

Elbert G. Piolo, 38, of Dededo, Guam, died early Monday morning after a reported shooting at a home here, Balajadia said.

An internal affairs investigation is being conducted, Balajadia said. The Office of the Attorney General was consulted before Torre's arrest, he said.

Earlier Monday, Balajadia said the residence at which the shooting occurred was the home of a Guam Police Department officer.

Balajadia said authorities responded to a reported shooting at the home on Chalan Tomas Andai around 2:15 a.m. Monday (12:15 p.m. Sunday EDT). Piolo was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, he said.

The residents of the officer's home were unharmed, Balajadia said, adding that the situation did not involve an intruder.

Police didn't release more details about the reported shooting.

In a media advisory sent Monday night, Balajadia referred journalists to the court magistrate for details about the events leading to Torre's arrest. Court documents weren't available Monday.

Piolo, who also goes by Bert or Berty, had been with the department for more than 15 years, Balajadia said.

Acting Police Chief Joseph Cruz was scheduled to have his confirmation hearing Monday morning, but he asked for it to be postponed because of the shooting.

His confirmation hearing has been rescheduled for July 27.

Contributing: Shawn Raymundo, (Guam) Pacific Daily News.