Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Man shot in face improving; suspected gunman a cousin
A 27-year-old man remained in critical condition but was improving yesterday after he was shot in the face Sunday in Pearl City, police said.
The 11:48 a.m. shooting happened at 1840 Komo Mai Drive fronting The Children's House, a preschool-through-sixth-grade private school, and occurred just as parishioners of the Leeward Community Church next door to the school were leaving Sunday service.
The victim was taken to The Queen's Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his left eye.
Police arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder and a firearms offense. Police said they were investigating the motive of the shooting. The two men are cousins, a family member told police.
Police said the victim was driving a white Chevrolet S-10 pickup on Komo Mai Drive heading toward Pacific Palisades when he pulled over to talk to the suspect, who was on foot. Witnesses told police that the man fired several times at the driver, with one of the bullets hitting him in the eye. The victim tried to drive off, but crashed his vehicle into some bushes 100 feet away on the side of the road, police said.
3,781 seat-belt citations issued
Police issued 3,781 seat-belt citations statewide through May 31 during the "Click It or Ticket" safety campaign, the state Department of Transportation said.
From May 27 through May 31, the four county police departments issued 1,823 citations. The Hawai'i County Police Department issued 343 citations, the Honolulu Police Department issued 983, the Kaua'i County Police Department issued 302, and the Maui County Police Department issued 195. The campaign ends Thursday.
The fine for a seat-belt violation is $67. Drivers who neglected to strap their children — 4 years old and younger — into safety seats were fined $100 for first-time offenses. Drivers must also pay an additional $57 to attend a four-hour safety class.
Big Isle police search for girl
Big Island police are looking for a 14-year-old girl who has been missing from her residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park home since March 14.
Brandi Oliveira is 5 feet 3, about 120 pounds and has a medium build, a tan complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information can call Officer Peter Kualii of the Hilo Police Juvenile Aid Section, (808) 961-2373, or the police nonemergency telephone number, (808) 935-3311. Anonymous tips can be left with CrimeStoppers, (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.
