Police in California are investigating the execution-style shooting deaths of a Johns Creek native and his girlfriend.
Eric Otokawa, 21, and his girlfriend, Kristina Pandula, 20, were found fatally shot at his apartment near the campus of San Jose State University Saturday morning. So far, police haven't named a suspect or a motive for the killings.
"Nothing harder than losing someone that close to you," Eric's older brother, Kenji Otokowa, told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik.
Kenji said Eric grew up in the St. Ives Country Club in what is now Johns Creek, and attended Northview High School before transferring to Woodward Academy and eventually to a military school in South Carolina. He said his brother had attended San Jose State University, but was planning to transfer to a smaller school to try his hand at football, a sport at which he excelled.
"This couldn't have happened at a worse time," he said. "He really had it together."
Eric Otokawa, 21, and his girlfriend, Kristina Pandula, 20, were found fatally shot at his apartment near the campus of San Jose State University Saturday morning. So far, police haven't named a suspect or a motive for the killings.
"Nothing harder than losing someone that close to you," Eric's older brother, Kenji Otokowa, told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik.
Kenji said Eric grew up in the St. Ives Country Club in what is now Johns Creek, and attended Northview High School before transferring to Woodward Academy and eventually to a military school in South Carolina. He said his brother had attended San Jose State University, but was planning to transfer to a smaller school to try his hand at football, a sport at which he excelled.
"This couldn't have happened at a worse time," he said. "He really had it together."
SAN JOSE, Calif.,None — http://bcove.me/g0umigzc
Otokawa described his brother as having a magnetic personality and a desire to please those around him.
"He craved attention," he said. "He loved being in the spotlight. He thrived in the spotlight."
Kenji said his brother had a special relationship with his girlfriend, a Sunnyvale, Calif. native, who was studying to be a nurse.
"She was definitely a good influence on him," Otokawa said. "I'm thankful he got to be with someone as good as she was."
Otokawa said his family would be traveling to California in the next few days to carry out his brother's wishes of being cremated.
"Our family does want justice to be served. It won't bring him back but it'll be bring some peace to us for sure," Otokawa said.
"He craved attention," he said. "He loved being in the spotlight. He thrived in the spotlight."
Kenji said his brother had a special relationship with his girlfriend, a Sunnyvale, Calif. native, who was studying to be a nurse.
"She was definitely a good influence on him," Otokawa said. "I'm thankful he got to be with someone as good as she was."
Otokawa said his family would be traveling to California in the next few days to carry out his brother's wishes of being cremated.
"Our family does want justice to be served. It won't bring him back but it'll be bring some peace to us for sure," Otokawa said.
WSBTV
