Big Island police arrested a 53-year-old Waikoloa man yesterday following a fatal shooting at a shopping center.

A 38-year-old man died after being shot several times in the parking lot of Kings' Shops on Waikoloa Beach Drive, police said. The victim's name was being withheld until his family was notified.

Police responded to a 4:07 p.m. report of a shooting and arrested the suspect. He was being held at the Kealakehe police station. He was not immediately charged.

Detectives assigned to the Area II Criminal Investigations Division were investigating the shooting.

WOMAN ARRESTED IN BACKHOE THEFTS

A 38-year-old Makakilo woman was arrested yesterday in connection with an ongoing police investigation into people who allegedly steal backhoes from construction lots and try to extort money for the equipments' return.

The woman lives at the Akaula Street address where Vance Grace, 48, was arrested Feb. 26 in the same investigation. Grace was charged two days later with first-degree theft and extortion.

The woman was arrested for investigation of three counts of first-degree theft and first-degree extortion. Charges were pending.

MAN CHARGED IN KNIFE-THROWING

Prosecutors yesterday charged a 29-year-old man wanted on a probation retake warrant for first-degree terroristic threatening.

Shayne L. Edralin of Salt Lake is accused of throwing a pocketknife at a police officer outside a Ala Lilikoi Street market Wednesday morning. Bail is $75,000.

HILO DROWNING VICTIM IDENTIFIED

The Coast Guard has identified a 20-year-old Coast Guardsman who apparently drowned Wednesday afternoon while swimming in the Wailuku River in Hilo as Christian Starr of Warrenville, Ill.

Hawai'i County Fire Department officials said they received a call about 4:20 p.m. that a swimmer was missing. A fire crew was sent to the Ka'iulani Street bridge, where three of Starr's friends told firefighters that he had jumped off the falls up river, came up to the surface, waved for help and went back under the water. He did not resurface.

Three fire department divers found Starr's body in about 45 feet of water near the Slides Falls area. Starr was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center.

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Marsha Delaney said Starr was assigned to the Cutter Kiska, a 110-foot patrol boat based in Hilo. Starr was a petty officer third-class boatswain's mate.

STOLEN-CAR CHASE RESULTS IN CHARGES

A man with 31 prior convictions captured Wednesday after he crashed a stolen car while fleeing from police was charged yesterday with auto theft.

Rodney Rellin is being held in lieu of $25,000.

POLICE OFFICER BIT, OTHERS SPIT UPON

Charges were pending against a 42-year-old Waikele man who allegedly bit a police officer and spit on two others while running away from them. Police said he was in possession of a drug-smoking pipe.

The man had approached the officers shortly before 9 a.m. near Kupuohi Street, where police had recovered a bag containing cash and drugs, to ask about the bag. He was arrested on three counts of first-degree assault on a police officer, harassment and two drug offenses.

KCC OPENS NEW SCIENCE CENTER

The newly renovated science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) center will open today at Kapi'olani Community College.

Gov. Linda Lingle will join UH Vice President for Community Colleges John Morton, UH Board of Regents member Jane Tatibouet, Kapi'olani Community College Interim Chancellor Leon Richards, STEM Program Director John Rand and others at a 2:30 p.m. dedication event.

The colleges' STEM program aims to enhance the quality of science, technology, engineering and mathematics instructional and outreach programs, as well as to increase the number of STEM students transferring to four-year degree programs.