Hawaii Community Correctional Center was placed on lockdown early Saturday morning after four inmates, including one awaiting re-trial on a murder charge, allegedly attempted to escape.
Hawaii Community Correctional Center was placed on lockdown early Saturday morning after four inmates, including one awaiting re-trial on a murder charge, allegedly attempted to escape.
The attempted jailbreak occurred at about 2 a.m., according to a statement from the state Department of Public Safety.
The four inmates are identified as Malaki McBride, Airiel Jost, Douglas Kaimiola, and Kawaipuna Noa.
The inmates allegedly used a piece of furniture to ram a door open in their housing unit. They exited through the door and were quickly restrained outside their unit by corrections officers. They never got outside the HCCC secured perimeter. A lockdown was initiated. No injuries were reported.
“Staff immediately implemented crisis response procedures to safely end the situation and prevent the escape,” said Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda. “I commend the staff for their quick reaction and a job well done.”
An investigation is underway. Saturday family visits at HCCC were cancelled and will be rescheduled for today. Hale Nani, their reintegration and work release center, held Saturday visitation.
McBride was sentenced to life plus 20 years in 2010 for the shooting death of 21-year-old Tyrone Torres, who was killed Feb. 25, 2007, while seated in a car parked in a secluded cul-de-sac in Nanawale Estates in Puna. McBride was 17 when the shooting occurred, but he was tried as an adult on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony and auto theft.
His conviction was overturned in 2010 after the Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara’s jury instructions on extreme mental or emotional disturbance (EMED) differed from agreed-upon written instructions.
McBride is awaiting a new trial on Torres’ slaying.
Kaimiola is awating trial on numerous offenses as part of a ring accused of theft, auto theft, burglary and forgery and West Hawaii. Noa and Jost are post-conviction inmates, whose release dates are listed on the Department of Public Safety’s website as Oct. 25, 2019, and Nov. 11, 2016, respectively.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.