Police were still seeking leads late Friday about the identity of a gunman who allegedly shot at a Puna patrol officer who was responding to a report of gunshots in Tiki Gardens subdivision.
“We have a few people we’re looking at as possibilities but nothing definitive,” said Capt. Randall Medeiros of Hilo Criminal Investigation Division on Friday.
Police say the gunshots, reported at 6 a.m. in the small Puna subdivision off Ainaloa Boulevard, was followed by the sound of a woman yelling.
Medeiros said there were multiple calls to report the disturbance.
“There were several neighbors that called in because the residences are fairly close together in that area,” he said.
One of the responding officers encountered a man attempting to leave the area on a dirt bike. Police said the bike hit the ground and the rider stood, pointed a long gun and fired a shot at the officer. The man then ran into nearby bushes.
The officer wasn’t struck by the bullet and didn’t return fire, police said.
Officers searched unsuccessfully for the suspect and police released a photo of the motorcycle, a white Suzuki with a purple seat with several stickers, including a yellow “recycle” sticker, a green and yellow John Deere logo and what appears to be a vertical strip of red duct tape above the headlight.
“There’s some unique stickers on it. I’m hoping someone will come forward and say, ‘Oh, that’s so and so’s bike,’” Medeiros said. “We have nothing definitive at this point and that’s why I included the picture of the motorcycle.”
Detectives learned that the woman reportedly left in a vehicle shortly after the initial incident. They believe her to be 29-year-old Angel Ano of Tiki Gardens. Police are trying to find Ano to check on her welfare and speak to her about the incident.
Detectives classified the investigation as an attempted murder.
Anyone with information about the incident, Ano’s whereabouts or the man known to operate the motorcycle is asked to contact Detective Levon Pomai Stevens at 961-2377 or levon.stevens@hawaiicounty.gov, the police nonemergency number at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.