Shoot-out at Maha‘ulepu Investigated

Kaua‘i police mounted a search in the Maha‘ulepu area after an apparent shooting near CJM Country Stables in Po‘ipu late yesterday afternoon.

The shooting apparently involved the use of a shotgun, according to information heard over the police scanner report after 4:30 p.m. Friday. There were no confirmed reports of any gunshot victims, and county officials would only confirm that there had been some incident involving gunfire.

Following the shooting incident, a Kaua‘i police patrol officer followed a single suspect, a man, who drove a vehicle northward on Maluhia Road heading towards Kaumuali‘i Highway.

The officer followed the man based on an apparent witness description given to police. The officer was assisted by another officer who drove southward on Maluhia Road and doubled back on the road to monitor the path of the suspect’s vehicle.

It was not known if the suspect’s vehicle was stopped.

At the same time, police officers searched cornfields and side roads in the Maha‘ulepu area. Officers were told to provide backup for other officers who searched the area.

Police apparently cordoned off two main roads that lead out of the area where the apparent shooting occurred, and initiated a search for a potential suspect or suspects.

One dirt road runs from the old Koloa sugar mill to Maha‘ulepu Beach. The other dirt road runs from the mill road to the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course and the Hyatt Regency Kaua‘i Resort & Spa.

The police shifted the search to areas near the golf course after 5 p.m. After 6 p.m. a police officer requested that two vehicles be towed from the scene of the apparent shooting.

At one point yesterday afternoon, Inter-Island Helicopter’s response helicopter was called to assist the apparent manhunt. More details should be available in Sunday’s paper.