A 42 year-old Kealakekua woman who was shot in an apparent New Year’s Day murder-suicide had been granted a temporary restraining order on Dec. 29 against her ex-boyfriend, 43 year-old Garret Kaleohano of Captain Cook.
The victim has been identified as Elizabeth Fernandez.
Shortly after noon on Jan. 1, Kona patrol officers and detectives responded to a report of a murder-suicide at a Mamalahoa Highway address in Kealakekua. Fernandez’s 71 year-old father reported that while walking to his daughter’s residence on the same property, he observed the body of Kaleohano, who appeared dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, and a rifle in close proximity to his body.
A check of the daughter’s residence led to the discovery of her body with an apparent fatal gunshot wound to her face.
According to court records, Fernandez filed for a TRO three days prior to the shooting, with a hearing date set for Jan. 8. The notice of temporary restraining order, summons and notice of hearing for Kaleohano was filed Dec. 29 and dated Jan. 2 by the court clerk.
In her petition for an order for protection, Fernandez stated she was in a relationship with Kaleohano for nine months. However, the relationship ended, and on Dec. 23, the first instance of abuse was reported.
“I came home late from work and he accused me of fooling around and threatened to kill me, grabbed my mouth , squeezed hard and hit the back of my head,” she reported. “He wouldn’t give me my keys to my car so I could leave.”
She called the police, and they issued Kaleohano a 48-hour TRO. However, according to her statement, he returned to her residence wanting to “talk” and threatening her if she was seeing someone else.
“I feel threatened and afraid all the time,” her petition reads. “He has anger issues and takes it out on me — hitting, threatening using abusive language and shaming me in public.”
The court record indicated Kaleohano was in possession of a “hunting gun” and was ordered to turn over all firearms, ammunition, permits and/or licenses to the nearest police station.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, three women each day in the United States are murdered by a current or former intimate partner.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, go to a safe place and call a trusted friend or relative for support. If you choose, you can call 911 to report the abuse to the police. The Child and Family Services 24-Hour Abuse Hotline has advocates available seven days a week to provide support and advocacy. They can be reached at (808) 322-7233 in West Hawaii and at (808) 959-8864 in East Hawaii.
