The family of a 35-year-old Hilo woman hospitalized after a shooting early Thursday afternoon in an upper Kaiwiki Road home set up an online fundraiser to help pay her medical bills.
Police said Friday the condition of the victim, Miya Pumehana Napoleon, also known as Miya Sagucio, was upgraded from critical to serious but stable.
Her husband, 41-year-old Corey Kahuhipa Napoleon of Hilo, remains in police custody on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder.
As of early Friday evening, Napoleon hadn’t been charged. Detectives from the Hilo Criminal Investigation and Juvenile Aid sections continue to investigate, and have until 1:50 p.m. today to charge Napoleon or must, by law, release him pending further investigation.
The gofundme.com page, “Prayers for Miya Sagucio,” was started by the woman’s sister, Emery Sagucio. As of early Friday evening, $1,800 had been raised with a goal of $7,500.
According to county property tax records, the home where the shooting occurred is owned by the sisters’ father, Conrad Sagucio.
The fundraising page said the wounded woman was “trying to take back her house and home from a horrific and toxic relationship.”
Emery Sagucio wrote her sister had left her husband, but was unable to get Napoleon out of the house and “refused to be forced out of her home.”
According to Emery Sagucio, surgery at Hilo Medical Center saved her sister’s life.
“Thanks to the wonderful police, medics, and surgeons/surgical team my sister will live, but the extent of the damage is not totally known especially neurological,” Emery Sagucio wrote. “… During this time I am taking care of the children but I am asking for help for my sister as she won’t be working for I don’t know how long, and I am unsure what the extent of her injuries will be, also for any therapy she or the kids may need now or in the future.”
The Napoleons have three children, all minors.
According to Emery Sagucio, her sister “would never ask for help, as she thinks it is shame. But she’s also never had to fight for her life.”
“I am so thankful my sister is alive and I know that, ‘Emmy he shot me,’ won’t be the last words she will say to me,” Emery Sagucio wrote.
The fundraising page is at https://www.gofundme.com/prayers-for-miya-sagucio.
Court records indicate both Napoleons filed for temporary restraining orders against the other last year, but the petitions for both were dismissed.
It doesn’t appear either party has filed for divorce.
Miya Napoleon remains charged with misdemeanor domestic abuse. The complaint alleges that on Nov. 24 she physically abused Corey Napoleon, who was described by neighbors as “extremely obese” and housebound. The document doesn’t specify what the alleged abuse was.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Matthew Kaaihue at 961-8883 or matthew.kaaihue@hawaiicounty.gov or call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.