updated…….Kohala Middle School Lockdown Happening NOW

UPDATES:

On Wednesday, March 27), Hawaiʻi Police officers responded to the area of Wainaia Gulch near the 24-mile marker on Route 270 in the North Kohala District on the report of a person who appeared to be in distress. Upon locating and approaching the 37-year-old male, officers heard a single gunshot that came from an unknown location, which struck the male party.

Officers transported the victim out of the area to the nearest medical facility. He is reported to be in serious condition. Preliminary investigation has shown that the victim was shot twice.

Akoni Pule Highway was temporarily closed while investigators processed the crime scene and conducted their investigation. A neighboring school was put into lock-down as a safety precaution while officers searched the area for the shooter. The road and the school have since re-opened.

As of now, police believe this incident is not related to a police search for 41-year-old Walter Gomes III, contrary to information in social media posts.

Police ask those who may have witnessed the incident or who may have information to contact Lieutenant Roylen Valera at (808) 326-4646 extension 230 or via email at roylen.valera@hawaiicounty.gov.

 

1:34pm SCHOOL LOCKDOWN HAS BEEN LIFTED & at least 1 lane is open.

1:30pm Opening of a lane of traffic on Akone Pule is happening soon.

1:20pm The Bank of Hawaii branch? and Kapaau Post Office are currently closed.

As the incident continues Wednesday, Hawaii Police are searching for two men wanted in connection with two separate shootings.

One of the men, Walter Gomes III was last seen fleeing into a field in the Hawi area on Thursday, March 21. Gomes, 41, is wanted for questioning in connection with a reported shooting March 20 in Kailua-Kona that left a woman with non life-threatening injuries.

The pursuit for Gomes began after a woman turned up at Kona Community Hospital with a single gunshot wound. At approximately 2:05 a.m. on Thursday, police had their first encounter with Gomes in Kona near Costco.

After refusing commands, police opened fire on the 41-year-old as he drove toward a police vehicle. Hours later, the search for Gomes took officers north to Hawi where police discharged their weapons on two more occasions, once at the Minit Stop and Ohana Fuels and again a half a mile away on Akoni Pule Highway near Old Camp 17 Road.

Gomes disappeared into the North Kohala brush after crashing into a police cruiser March 21.

No details have been released if Wednesday’s police activity in Kapaau is related to either case.

1:14pm Eye witness I know who lives there: I am marking myself, Sebastian, and the rest of the residents at the Wainaia Earth Temple safe, after the shooting in Kapa’au. Yes, it happened just outside our bus. There were 3 shots fired before police arrived. A trusted friend who happened to be driving through picked us up after we were ordered to clear the area. She was able to see the man that was shot, laying in the ground behind a vehicle that had, apparently, been there since as early as 5:30, this morning. We have not heard confirmation, nor denial that the shooter is the man that has been on the run for shooting his girlfriend. As if now, we are fed and at a friend’s place. We don’t know if we will be able to go home today. We hope so, though. We left the door open in our haste to get out of range.

12:34pm  Choppers have been up and a reported manhunt is currently underway. Highway is still closed.

9:56AM THIS CAME IN…..

Howzit Kohala Kohala Middle School is locked down Wednesday morning amid a police incident in North Kohala.

According to police officer communications over the scanner, police are responding to the area to a report of shots fired in the Waianaia Gulch off Akoni Pule Highway. West Hawaii Today is working to confirm the incident. A police spokesman had no details on the incident, saying he had a sent an email to the captain on duty in North Kohala.

A staff member at the middle school in Kapaau answered the phone and confirmed the school is on lockdown, whispering that all the students are safely in classrooms.