Police last night arrested a 33-year-old man as the suspect in a fatal shooting early yesterday morning outside a karaoke bar off Ke'eaumoku Street.

The suspect was arrested at 9:15 p.m. at Honolulu International Airport, where he was trying to catch a flight to the Mainland, police spokesman Maj. Clayton Kau said.

Witnesses to the shooting identified the suspect, who was taken to the main police station, Kau said. He was booked for investigation of second-degree murder.

A 35-year-old man was fatally shot following an argument at 4:19 a.m. in the parking lot at Seoul Karaoke on Rycroft Street, near the intersection with Ke'eaumoku.

Witnesses reported hearing three shots fired in rapid succession, followed by two more shots.

City paramedics treated the victim at the scene and took him in critical condition to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police said the victim and the gunman got into an argument in the parking lot. The gunman fired several shots into the air before shooting the victim once in the chest, Kau said.

Kau said it was not known what the argument was about, or whether there had been an earlier confrontation between the two men.

A friend of the victim said they were part of a group of eight people who had just left Seoul Karaoke when shots were fired. The friend said the gunman then drove out of the parking lot and turned right onto Ke'eaumoku.

Police described the suspect as a man in his late 20s or early 30s, about 200 pounds, with fair complexion and black hair.

A white Lincoln Navigator, believed to belong to the victim, remained at the scene yesterday with its shattered rear window on the ground.

Mike Miguel, resident manager of the adjacent Sandalwood condominium, said residents often are subjected to early-morning noise stemming from the karaoke business.

"There are arguments, scuffles, brawls and we hear those things all the time," Miguel said. "I tell them, 'Just call 911 — call police whenever that happens.' "

Miguel said he did not hear the shooting yesterday morning although several of the residents told him about it and he saw the news coverage on TV.

Sandalwood residents appeared at an Ala Moana/ Kaka'ako Neighborhood Board meeting last fall to thank police for getting the karaoke club to post signs, in English and Korean, asking patrons to be quiet when leaving the club.

Seoul Karaoke officials could not be reached to comment.