Police have arrested and charged a 39-year-old Hilo man with attempted murder and numerous firearms offenses following a violent armed confrontation with officers on Tuesday.
Larry Kalei Kamalii Jr. was charged Thursday with first-degree attempted murder, four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, first-degree terroristic threatening, carrying or use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, illegally carrying a loaded firearm, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public roadway, and first-degree attempted assault of a law enforcement officer.
Bail was set at $705,000 and Kamalii is scheduled to make his initial appearance Friday in Hilo District Court.
According to police, shortly after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hilo Criminal Investigation Division detectives saw a vehicle obstructing the roadway on Kea Road (Road B) in Hawaiian Acres. As officers approached the vehicle to see if the occupants needed assistance, they identified Kamalii in the driver’s seat.
Officers were familiar with Kamalii, aware he had several outstanding arrest warrants and was considered armed and dangerous.
Officers identified themselves, police said, informed him that he was under arrest, and opened the door to arrest him. According to police, Kamalii immediately resisted by pulling away and grabbed a shotgun from the vehicle’s console.
Police say Kamalii then pointed the firearm towards officers with his finger within the trigger well, placing the officers in immediate risk of death or serious bodily injury. After a brief struggle, officers were able to breach the firearm, preventing Kamalii from firing it. This allowed officers to gain control of the weapon and place Kamalii under arrest.
Police executed a search warrant on the vehicle Kamalii was driving and recovered more than 100 rounds of ammunition for the shotgun Kamalii had in his possession, which had been sawed-off, according to police.
Kamalii appeared in Hilo District Court on Wednesday on three outstanding warrants. His bail of $4,700 bail was maintained and he remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
A front-seat passenger in the vehicle, 32-year-old Nicole Saua Himphill of Kurtistown, was arrested for an outstanding grand jury bench warrant and on suspicion of first-degree hindering prosecution. While officers were attempting to arrest Kamalii, Himphill physically grabbed on to him and attempted to obstruct officers and prevent them from gaining control of Kamalii to arrest him, police said.