Updated at 9:05 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Man, 28, killed in shootout at Makaha home identified
Advertiser Staff
The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office today identified the 28-year-old man shot Saturday morning in a shootout at a Mai'u'u Road home in Makaha as Jason Sylva.An autopsy determined Sylva died from a gunshot wound to the chest and manner of death as a homicide.
Police continued their search for three men who witnesses say fled from the scene after shots were fired. Sylva and at least one other man in the group were believed to be carrying firearms, police said. A shotgun was found in the yard where Sylva was found.
Police recovered a rifle from the home of 55-year-old Keith Kuraoka, who was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree murder and released Sunday evening pending further investigation. Rany Oyama, Kuraoka's attorney, said his client acted in self defense.
"At least three guys with guns went to his house, confronted his girlfriend at the door and broke into his house," Oyama said.
Witnesses described the three intruders of about equal size as Sylva, who was 5-feet 10-inches and weighed 230 pounds, according to Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center records, police said. Kuraoka is 5-feet 3-inches and weighs 135 pounds.
