Police are investigating a shooting incident reported Monday night in the parking lot the Puainako Town Center in Hilo. ADVERTISING Police are investigating a shooting incident reported Monday night in the parking lot the Puainako Town Center in Hilo. Responding
Police are investigating a shooting incident reported Monday night in the parking lot the Puainako Town Center in Hilo.
Responding to a 10 p.m. report of multiple gunshots fired, officers learned that a man had fired several gunshots at a group of young adults standing near their vehicles, resulting in two vehicles being struck multiple times. Although no one was injured, four men — ranging in age from 18 to 19 — and a 20-year-old woman were in close proximity to the vehicles the bullets struck.
Police combined all patrol officers from the South Hilo and Puna districts nearing the end of their shift to search for the suspect vehicle.
At approximately 12:25 a.m., officers spotted the suspect in the Keaau area and a vehicle pursuit ensued. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle stopped, a woman and juvenile male got out and the car sped away. The woman and juvenile were taken into custody while the pursuit continued.
Approximately 30 minutes later, the driver abandoned his vehicle in the area of the old mill in Keaʻau and was taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit.
Arrested were 29-year-old Desmond Lee K. Kepano, who has no permanent address, 32-year-old Kanani U. Castro of Pahoa and a 17-year-old boy.
Kepano was arrested on suspicion of five counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count each of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree terroristic threatening, resisting an order to stop a vehicle, and reckless driving. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from continue the investigation.
Castro and the juvenile, who were arrested on suspicion attempted murder, were later released without charges.
Police ask anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Tuckloy Aurello at 961-2385 or tuckloy.aurello@hawaiicounty.gov or call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
