Shooting part of epidemic
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
The shooting of a Punchbowl man during a daytime burglary in his home is the most troubling and violent recent example of the epidemic of property crime on O'ahu, authorities said yesterday.
City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle and police officials said the shooting of Eric Kawamoto should give new urgency to efforts to battle property crime and lock up repeat offenders. After a brief downturn from soaring levels in the mid-1990s,
ERIC KAWAMOTO
Honolulu has experienced a resurgence in property crime, which authorities blame on the spread of drugs such as crystal methamphetamine, known as "ice."
"If ever a case was tailor made to show property offenses have dangerous potential, this is it," Carlisle said.
The victim, 43, was shot once in the chest when he confronted a person who was ransacking his home on Puowaina Drive on Thursday afternoon.
Kawamoto, an electrical engineer who works for the military, was moved out of intensive care at The Queen's Medical Center yesterday. The bullet, which was fired at close range, entered the left side of his chest, but missed his heart.
The 17-year-old shooting suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, was charged as a juvenile yesterday with attempted murder, burglary, robbery, two firearms charges and a charge related to dangerous drugs, detectives said last night. The suspect is in custody at a juvenile holding facility.
Carlisle said he will ask a Family Court judge to waive jurisdiction over the case, which would allow prosecutors to charge the youth as an adult.
"If it turns out that someone used a weapon against a civilian in a burglary, that's somebody who we will attempt to try as an adult, attempt to convict and attempt to get the life sentence for," he said.
Kawamoto's home had been burglarized before, and the burglar broke through protective bars that had been placed over a window after the previous incident.
Kawamoto's wife, Leslie, said her husband arrived home from his job at Pearl Harbor at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday and discovered their house had been ransacked. He went inside to look around and came face to face with the burglar, who pointed a gun at him.
The burglar fired, and Kawamoto stumbled toward the door. Neighbors called police when then they heard Kawamoto call for help and saw him bleeding outside the house. Some witnesses saw the attacker run.
Police found the suspect in a canal along Bates Street near Hawai'i Baptist Academy. Police found a .45-caliber automatic pistol they believe was used to shoot Kawamoto.
While police used the case to point to the need for public vigilance and stronger neighborhood watch organizations, Carlisle called for tougher prison sentences for repeat offenders, especially those involved in property crimes such as burglaries, car break-ins and car thefts.
"The facts clearly and equivocally show the dangerous potential of property crime," he said. "We've been talking about this for years ... If these (smaller crimes) go unabated, it can become very, very dangerous."
Carlisle said as prison populations grew and the state gained recognition as having the nation's highest levels of crystal methamphetamine use, more emphasis has been placed on treatment and less on incarceration.
Incarceration, the prosecutor said, keeps dangerous criminals off the streets. A large portion of Hawai'i's crime is committed by career criminals, he said.
"We are not immune at all from this, even in Hawai'i," he said. "Property crime affects us all. No car is safe. No one is safe at home."
Police Lt. Tom Grossi said yesterday that the case had prompted police to remind the the public that the department needs their help to combat crime.
"Neighbors need to get together in Neighborhood Security Watch programs," he said. "Know who belongs in your neighbor's house —mother, father daughter — and know what cars they drive. If someone isn't supposed to be there, call us.
"We need you to be our eyes and ears, because we cannot be everywhere at every minute."
Grossi recommended that people be aware of slight changes in the neighborhood or the condition of their homes when they return from work or errands. If something is amiss, leave the house immediately and call 911.
"Back out," he said. "It is only property; its not worth putting life and limb in jeopardy. Get on a cell phone or go to a neighbor's house, and let us go in."
Staff writer Catherine E. Toth contributed to this report.
Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
