38-year-old Warren Cho Jr. of Captain Cook was charged with terroristic threatening following a recent firearm incident in Hookena.

On Friday morning, Kona patrol officers were dispatched to the 84-4500 block of Māmalahoa Highway for a report of a man walking on the roadway with a gun after several callers contacted police saying the man was shooting at vehicles as they passed.

Responding officers located the man walking on Māmalahoa Highway carrying what appeared to be a rifle and disarmed him without incident. He was taken into custody and arrested for two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.

Officers were then contacted by a Hookena Elementary School employee who reported that children were playing outside the school when a staff member observed the man with the rifle staring into the schoolyard. Staff took the children inside and placed the school on lockdown.

Cho was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, his bail was set at $5,000. He is slated to make his initial court appearance in Kona District Court today.

Anyone who witnessed this incident is urged to contact Officer Dane Shibuya Jr. at (808) 326-4646, ext. 253.

 

HPD Photo