The Kapaau man who shot at police during a 20-hour standoff with authorities earlier this week was firing a 30-30 hunting rifle and threatened to kill his family and himself before officers arrived, based on a recently released probable cause document.
The case began with an argument between Macdon D. Thromman, 37, of Kapaau and his girlfriend of 11 years at 7:50 p.m. Monday in their home. During the argument, Thromman allegedly went to his truck and retrieved a rifle, using it to threaten his girlfriend. He then threatened to kill both of the couple’s children, the girlfriend’s parents, her and himself. She attempted to flee, carrying the baby, but he slammed the door in her face, the document says, injuring her hand.
He then ordered her inside, the document says, punching her three times in the head and face.
He then yelled, “If anyone’s out there, I’m going to kill them,” according to the report.
At this time, her parents arrived, the report says, and the girlfriend attempted to pass the baby to them. Thromman allegedly grabbed the woman by the hair, but she managed to hand the baby to her father.
The document says Thromman repeatedly told his girlfriend she was going to die that night, before pointing the rifle at her and ordering her inside. She did not go inside and he grabbed her hair, the document says, trying to pull her into the house.
The woman’s father “begged Thromman to stop,” the document reads.
He allegedly replied, “You like me shoot you, too? I’ll kill you and the baby,” then threatened to kill the man.
During this altercation, the girlfriend managed to get herself free and began to move away, the report says. Thromman then fired at her, striking her in the right outer thigh, according to the document. He ordered her to sit down and told her she was going to die that night, the report says.
Two police officers arrived on-scene Monday night, the report says. Thromman allegedly ordered them to not come into the yard or he would shoot them. The officers, who were standing near each other, ordered Thromman to put the rifle down, the report says.
He fired two shots at the officers, hitting Officer Ray Fukada in the right forearm, police allege.
The officers and family members left the area and police began to create a cordon around the area and shut down the nearby section of Akoni-Pule Highway, allowing access periodically to local residents.
The Hawaii Police Department’s Special Response Team later was called in and remained geared up for much of the day.
SRT members went into action at 3:24 p.m. Tuesday, the report says, firing three shots loaded with pepper spray through the rear window of the home. Thromman allegedly fired toward the discharge, but did not strike any of the five officers in the area.
Officers repeated the effort on the front of the house at 3:51 p.m. and Thromman fired again, the report says, firing through the window toward officers near the carport.
At 3:53 p.m., the document says, Thromman fired out the front window, hitting an armored truck used by the SRT. The bullet struck 2 feet below where an officer was exposed in an open hatch at the top of the vehicle.
Thromman later surrendered, being taken into custody at 4:26 p.m. Tuesday and taken to the police station in North Kohala.
He had his initial court appearance Friday.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 1 p.m. July 21 in North Kohala Court by Kona District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
