An off-duty deputy sheriff who tried to subdue an armed robber at a trendy Kapi'olani Boulevard lounge was fatally wounded early yesterday, police said.

Daniel Brown Sanchez, 27, was shot three times by a gunman who entered the Osake Sushi Bar and Lounge shortly after closing time yesterday morning, police said. He died about 5:40 p.m. after hours of surgery, a Department of Public Safety spokesperson said.

Sanchez was working as a bartender's assistant when a 33-year-old masked man, armed with a .22-caliber pistol, entered the restaurant through a kitchen door and ordered the cooks into the lounge area, where other employees were gathered.

"He ordered everyone down on the floor, and he fired three to four rounds into the roof and the wall," homicide Detective Bill Kato told the reporters at the scene.

Sanchez, who was working part time at the bar, was shot in the chest, neck and shoulder after he and other employees jumped the man in an attempt to overpower him, Kato said.

Louise Kim McCoy, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said Sanchez died at The Queen's Medical Center.

Kato said other employees managed to hold the suspect down until police arrived and arrested him. The shooting was reported at about 3 a.m.

Video images of the suspect last night showed him being led away from the lounge with a bloody, bruised face. The suspect, who was wearing a military flak jacket under his shirt, was booked initially on suspicion of attempted murder and robbery, police said.

A records check done by The Advertiser last night showed that the suspect had a record of multiple arrests, including five felony drug-related convictions dating back to 1994.

Investigators still were working on bringing charges in the case last night, said Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Ray Struss, who declined further comment.

McCoy said Sanchez had worked as a deputy sheriff for five years and was assigned to the District Court on O'ahu.

"He was just a real good guy," said sheriff's deputy Kraig Massey. "I saw him Thursday and he was laughing and joking. Just an all-around good guy."

Sanchez's mother flew from the Big Island to O'ahu yesterday morning to be with her son and was escorted from the airport to Queen's by a delegation of sheriff's officers, she said.

Sanchez was single and a graduate of Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu.

Employees at the restaurant declined to comment on the shooting last night. The restaurant has been open for about a year at 1700 Kapi'olani Boulevard.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.