Police seek furlough escapee in Honolii shooting

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Police are seeking for a 29-year-old furlough escapee for questioning in connection with an early morning shooting near the Honolii lookout on Jan. 31 that hospitalized a 31-year-old Kona man.

Police are seeking for a 29-year-old furlough escapee for questioning in connection with an early morning shooting near the Honolii lookout on Jan. 31 that hospitalized a 31-year-old Kona man.

Police say Scottie Yanagawa is considered armed and dangerous. He’s described as 5-foot-5, 225 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Yanagawa has tattoos of skulls on his left hand and upper arm and tribal tattoos running down his right arm.

He may now be clean shaven, police said.

Yanagawa, who was serving time for felony theft and burglary, failed to return to Hale Nani re-integration center in Hilo from a day pass for work furlough on Nov. 19, and has been sought by authorities since then.

Police caution anyone who knows Yanagawa’s whereabouts to not approach him. Instead, call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Clarence Davies at 961-2383 or clarence.davies@hawaiicounty.gov or Detective Todd Pataray at 961-2382 or todd.pataray@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

The victim is recovering from his injuries at a hospital on Oahu, police said.

Police detectives continue to investigate the shooting, which is classified as a second-degree attempted murder.