A 29-year-old man arrested following a gunfire incident late Monday night at the Puainako Town Center parking lot in Hilo has previous felony firearms and terroristic threatening convictions.
A 29-year-old man arrested following a gunfire incident late Monday night at the Puainako Town Center parking lot in Hilo has previous felony firearms and terroristic threatening convictions.
Desmond Lee Kaulana Kepano, of no permanent address, was sentenced to five years probation and a year in jail in 2009, according to court records.
Officers responded at about 10 p.m. Monday to a report of multiple gunshots fired. According to police, officers learned a man had fired several gunshots at a group of young adults standing near their vehicles, resulting in two vehicles being struck multiple times. Although no one was injured, four men, all 18 or 19, and a 20-year-old woman were in close proximity to the vehicles the bullets struck.
“Indications at this point are that it was a chance encounter,” Capt. Randall Medeiros of the Hawaii Police Department Criminal Investigation Division said Tuesday.
Police mounted a concentrated manhunt with all South Hilo and Puna patrol officers who were nearing the end of their shifts.
“There were indications who the suspect was and everything matched up with the type of vehicle that we were looking for,” Medeiros said. Asked if that suspect was Kepano, Medeiros replied affirmatively.
At about 12:25 a.m. Tuesday, officers spotted Kepano in the Keaau area and a vehicle pursuit ensued, police said. Shortly afterward, the vehicle stopped, the woman and teen got out and the car sped away. The woman, identified as 32-year-old Kanani U. Castro of Pahoa, and the juvenile were arrested while the chase continued.
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.
Kepano was arrested on suspicion of five counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count each of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree terroristic threatening, resisting an order to stop a vehicle, and reckless driving. Kepano remained in custody at the Hilo police cellblock and those charges had not been filed as of press time Tuesday.
Castro and the juvenile, who were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, were later released without charges.
Medeiros said a firearm had not yet been recovered.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Tuckloy Aurello at 961-2385 or tuckloy.aurello@hawaiicounty.gov or call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer anonymity can Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.