Hawai’i Island police detectives charged 29-year-old Keola Jedidiah Whitehead-Shibata with attempted murder following a recent Honokaʻa shooting that left a 39-year-old man in critical condition.
Upon conferring with the County Prosecutors Office, Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives charged Whitehead-Shibata with the following offenses:
- second-degree attempted murder
- ownership/possession of a firearm prohibited
- carrying or use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony
Whitehead-Shibata’s bail is set at $1,075,000. He remains in police custody pending his initial Hilo District Court appearance scheduled for today.
The charges against Whitehead-Shibata stem from a May 16 incident. Hāmākua patrol officers responded to a reported shooting on Rickard Place in Honoka‘a where they located the victim, who was conscious while a bystander was tending to him. He appeared to have injuries to his neck and top of his head and was immediately transported via ambulance to the North Hawai’i Community Hospital and later flown to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, for further treatment. The victim remains hospitalized on Oʻahu in stable condition. A witness at the scene reported that he and the victim were hanging out in the area on Rickard Place, when Whitehead-Shibata arrived. Whitehead-Shibata then got upset with the victim, pulled out a handgun, and shot at him multiple times prior to fleeing the area on foot, still in possession of the gun.
After canvassing the area, police located and arrested Whitehead-Shibata in a wooded area off Lehua Street in Honokaʻa. Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives responded to the scene to continue the investigation, which is classified as second-degree attempted murder. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who came into contact with Whitehead-Shibata following the incident, to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Scotty Aloy at (808) 961-2381 or email him at Scotty-Aloy@hawaiicounty.gov.
HPD Photo