Man charged in Hamakua shooting

A 24-year-old Kailua-Kona man has been charged with three offenses for allegedly shooting his girlfriend in the leg accidentally while they were target shooting Tuesday night in Paauilo.

Sean M.K. Smith II was charged at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday with second-degree reckless endangering and two counts of carrying a pistol or revolver, police said Thursday.

He was released after posting $10,500 bail.

Smith reported he and the victim were taking target practice in the area, which is not designated as a gun range. Investigation revealed that no one else was in the area at the time and that a shot fired from Smith’s firearm ricocheted, causing the injury, police said.

The 24-year-old woman was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, police said.

The firearms offenses are Class B felonies which carry a possible 10-year prison sentence upon conviction, while the reckless endangering charge is a misdemeanor with a possible one-year jail term.