Ka'u man shot by home intruder

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

KEALAKEHE, Hawai'i — A Ka'u man was shot by a suspected burglar when he returned to his home Tuesday night in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, police said. The man was in critical but stable condition at the Queen's Medical Center today, police said.

The shooting was classified as an attempted murder and burglary. Two suspects were being sought, according to Det. Wayne Young.

Police withheld the name of the 55-year-old victim and provided few details about the shooting. The Hawai'i County Fire Department's rescue helicopter went to the home and flew the victim to Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua following the 6:53 p.m. call for help.

Police said the man was shot in the upper abdomen by "one of the intruders."

The victim told investigators one of the burglars was a Caucasian man in his 30s with curly brown hair, wearing a T-shirt and jeans. The second man was described as a "local" man in his 20s, 5 feet 8 or 9 and about 150 pounds. He had shoulder-length hair.

Police asked for the public's help in obtaining more information, asking tipsters to call Young at 808-326-4275 or the island's anonymous Crime Stoppers Hawaii lines at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo.