A 19-year-old Keaau man admitted he fired a shot Monday from the window of a stolen county truck in Hawaiian Paradise Park, according to court documents filed by police. ADVERTISING A 19-year-old Keaau man admitted he fired a shot Monday
A 19-year-old Keaau man admitted he fired a shot Monday from the window of a stolen county truck in Hawaiian Paradise Park, according to court documents filed by police.
Documents state Eric John Wilson Jr. told police he fired the shot to scare away several people, whom he said were attempting to stop the truck, which was reported stolen Saturday from the Mass Transit Agency baseyard in Hilo.
The shooting incident occurred on 29th Avenue at the corner of Paradise Drive.
Police found the truck, a 2016 Ford F-350 utility box truck with a lift gate, set afire and abandoned a couple of hours later on Mailenani Road in Fern Forest subdivision.
Wilson was arrested shortly afterward on Enos Road in Mountain View near a Toyota 4Runner SUV that was stolen April 18 in Hilo, police said. He and a suspected accomplice ran into some bushes, but a police tracking dog flushed Wilson out and officers apprehended him. The accomplice was able to elude capture.
He was charged Wednesday with first-degree reckless endangering, first-degree terroristic threatening and three firearms offenses, all felonies.
During his initial court appearance Thursday, Deputy Public Defender Isaac Ickes asked Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas to free Wilson on supervised release.
“I did speak with his parents … before court today,” Ickes told the judge. “… I’ll note that Mr. Wilson doesn’t appear to have any prior (criminal) history … and it does look like Mr. Wilson is still a high school student.”
Deputy Prosecutor Jared Auna asked the judge to maintain Wilson’s $16,000 bail and described him as “a danger to the community.”
“The defendant shot out of a vehicle toward the three complaining witnesses,” Auna said. He added Wilson takes online classes “so he’s not an attendee, in person, at the high school.”
Freitas maintained Wilson’s bail and ordered him to appear for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Monday.
A search warrant was executed on a fanny pack found near Wilson at the time of his arrest. It contained a loaded Browning 9 mm semi-automatic pistol with an illegal magazine — with a capacity in excess of 10 rounds — plus Wilson’s state-issued ID card, court documents state.
According to police, the stolen county truck was seen being driven recklessly through Hilo during Merrie Monarch weekend and was involved in at least two hit-and-run collisions and a pair of police pursuits.
Police said Thursday they continue to investigate the theft of the county truck, the 4Runner and events related to the alleged crime spree, and are seeking the public’s assistance to find an additional two men and two women wanted for questioning in relation to those events.
Jeremy Rafael Jr. is a 25-year-old Hispanic man also wanted for an outstanding bench warrant. He has no permanent address but frequents the Hilo and Puna areas. He’s described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 190 pounds, medium build with black hair and brown eyes. He has “Eveliga” tattooed on his left forearm, a tattoo of a skull on his right bicep and a tribal design on his right forearm.
Keanu Krause is a 21-year-old Mountain View man also wanted for questioning in connection with an unrelated trespassing incident. He’s described as part Hawaiian, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 145 pounds, with a slim build, black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos of “Krause” on his right bicep and “outlawz” on his right rib cage.
Tiani Kapeli-Spencer is a 21-year-old Hawaiian Paradise Park woman described as part Hawaiian, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 140 pounds, with a medium build, brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.
And Jasmine Saragosa-Taoy is a 23-year-old Hawaiian Paradise Park woman described as part Hawaiian, 5 feet 3 inches tall, 145 pounds, with a medium build, black shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.
Police said they might be in the company of each other, should be considered armed and dangerous, and advised the public to not approach them.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police nonemergency number at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
