A 30-year-old Kawaihae man was sentenced last month to 20 years in prison for the nonfatal shooting of another man 20 months ago on the Honokaa Salvation Army campus.
In a deal with prosecutors, Keola J. Whitehead-Shibata pleaded no contest to attempted second-degree murder for the May 16, 2023, shooting that critically injured Arthur Franklin, then 39.
In return for Whitehead-Shibata’s plea, charges of illegally carrying a firearm, use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, and being a felon in possession of a firearm were dismissed.
Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto allowed Whitehead-Shibata — who had been incarcerated in lieu of $1.075 million bail since the shooting — to receive credit for time served.
Whitehead-Shibata, who declined an opportunity to address the court at his sentencing, also pleaded no contest to unrelated charges of third-degree possession of a dangerous drug and auto theft.
His five-year sentence for those charges will be served concurrently with the attempted murder conviction.
The shooting occurred before numerous witnesses, including Whitehead-Shibata’s father.
Brad Shibata told police he and Franklin were barbecuing on the side of the Salvation Army building on Rickard Place, just off Mamane Street, when Shibata’s son approached them with a handgun and shot Franklin in the neck.
In addition, Franklin told officers Whitehead-Shibata shot him twice with a revolver.
A Salvation Army spokesman, Envoy Gary Todd, told the Tribune-Herald when the shooting occurred that Franklin, Whitehead-Shibata and his father were all on the Honokaa campus to receive services.
Todd said a nurse volunteering in the Salvation Army’s thrift store responded after hearing the gunshots and started treatment on Franklin before police and medics arrived.
Franklin had injuries to his neck and top of his head. He was immediately transported via ambulance to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital and was later flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for further treatment.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
