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Editor’s note: Read a reaction to the shooting from Waikiki resident Dan Zelikman, Civil Beat’s community host.

UPDATED 11/07/11 1:30 p.m.

A U.S. State Department agent charged in the shooting death of a Kailua man at a Waikiki McDonald’s was in Honolulu for APEC, a spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

“He was in Hawaii on State Department business to support protection of dignitaries for APEC,” said Victoria Nuland.

Christopher Deedy, 27, has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony in connection with the Saturday morning shooting death of Kollin Elderts, 23, at a Kuhio Avenue McDonald’s.

Deedy has been put on paid administrative leave, Civil Beat’s Adrienne LaFrance reports from the State Department.

“This was a tragic incident,” Nuland said in Washington, D.C. “The circumstances of this case are under investigation. I’m not going to comment any further on the details given that there are ongoing investigations.”

Deedy, who is attached to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, was released on $250,000 bail early Monday, said Dave Koga, spokesman for the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office. There were no conditions set on Deedy’s release, he said.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye issued a statement Monday afternoon, calling for calm and respect:

“I am confident that the Honolulu Police Department will handle this matter properly to ensure that justice is served, and that our community will be respectful and considerate of both the Elderts family and the national and international spotlight which is upon our beloved Hawaii this week,” he said.

Reporters asked Gov. Neil Abercrombie about the shooting at a press conference announcing his pick for deputy chief of staff.

“Any time there is a death as a result of an altercation like that is sad,” Abercrombie said. “The main thing now is that we extend our heartfelt sense of sadness and sympathy to the family and friends who are suffering a deep trauma as a result of what happened … Hawaii is family, whether we know that person or not.”

He said he is not concerned that Hawaii may be cast in a negative light during APEC week.

“Our focus is on the family,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Elderts’ family has hired an attorney.

Attorney that the incident may have started before the two men got to the restaurant.

Deedy was off-duty at the time of the shooting. He is based in Washington, D.C.

Green told Hawaii News Now he is seeking surveillance camera videos, and that it could take weeks for the facts to come out.

Court records show that Elderts had been convicted of DUI in 2010 and disorderly conduct in 2008.

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