A 29-year-old Hilo man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges related to gunshots allegedly fired at a group of people a little more than two months ago in a parking lot near McDonald’s at the Puainako Town Center in Hilo.
Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura ordered Desmond Lee Kaulana Kepano to appear for trial at 9 a.m. July 24.
A Hilo grand jury returned a 12-count indictment March 15 charging Kepano with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and four counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, plus being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm and two counts of carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.
Kepano was set to resume a previously started preliminary hearing April 20 in Hilo District Court, but the indictment rendered the hearing unnecessary.
According to court documents filed by police, at about 10 p.m. Feb. 6, Kepano was driving a white Jeep Wrangler in the parking lot, where he shined after-market high-intensity discharge lights toward a Honda Civic and a Toyota Avalon. Four men and a woman, ages 18 to 20, were inside or nearby the vehicles.
Kepano then reportedly said, “What you guys looking at? You guys get eye problems?”
After that, Kepano allegedly opened fire with a handgun, hitting the Civic and another Civic parked nearby.
All of the alleged victims, identified in documents as Noah Surigao, Russel Montibon, Russell Ragual, Kaylen Cabatu-Gapusan and Reisha Hoopii-Haslam, said Kepano was a stranger, and four identified him from a photo lineup.
Two other witnesses heard gunshots and saw the muzzle flash, according to documents. One reportedly told police that when the shots were fired, the Jeep was one to two car-lengths away from the cars the alleged victims were seated in. Both witnesses also identified Kepano as the shooter. Kepano reportedly sped away south on Highway 11 and police mounted a manhunt.
At about 12:25 a.m. Feb. 7, officers spotted Kepano in the Keaau area and a vehicle pursuit ensued, according to police. Shortly afterward, the vehicle stopped near the Shipman Park baseball diamond.
A woman, identified in court documents as Kepano’s girlfriend, 32-year-old Kanani Castro, and a 17-year-old boy got out of the car and were arrested while the chase continued. They were later released without being charged.
About 30 minutes later, Kepano ditched the car near the old Keaau sugar mill and police took him into custody following a brief foot pursuit, police said.
Deputy Prosecutor Winston Albright said in February Kepano was apprehended near Christian Liberty Elementary School.
Court documents state Kepano ducked away from officer Thomas Chun-Ming and caused the officer to fall to the ground as he was attempting to make the arrest. Kepano also reportedly assumed a fighting pose toward the officer but was eventually subdued.
Kepano remains in custody in Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $420,000.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
