2 held in shooting at Maui park

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — Two men were being held on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder yesterday after gunfire erupted Wednesday night as a group of off-duty Maui Police Department officers held a barbecue at a Kihei park.

Two shots were fired at the officers, and one of the officers returned fire, but no one was hurt, said police Lt. Glenn Cuomo of the department's Criminal Investigation Division.

Cuomo said charges were expected to be filed against the alleged shooter, described as the older of two men in their 20s.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 p.m. at the main pavilion at Kalama Beach Park.

A group of perhaps a dozen Kihei District officers and acquaintances were celebrating the transfer of a colleague when the two suspects walked through the pavilion and verbally taunted the group, Cuomo said.

The men walked off in the Ma'alaea direction but returned several minutes later. One of the men hid behind a tree and fired one shot toward the gathering, he said.

When the officers gave chase, the gunman ran in the Makena direction, then turned and fired another shot at the group, he said. The bullet missed the officers and struck a parked vehicle belonging to one of the off-duty officers.

The bullet passed through two of the vehicle's windows and struck a hollow-tile wall.

An officer fired at the gunman but missed, Cuomo said.

Several hours later, the two men were arrested by Special Response Team officers outside a Kihei residence.

At the scene, investigators recovered one bullet fired by the suspect and the shell casing from the shot fired by the officer.

Cuomo said he was unaware whether the suspects knew any of the officers, although one of the officers may have recognized the suspects.

Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.