Kona Man Charged in Accidental Shooting
Three charges have been given to a 24-year-old Kona man after an accidental shooting while conducting illegal target practice in a forest.
According to the Hawai’i Police Department, Hamakua Police responded on Tuesday at 6:26 p.m. to a forested area off Pa’uilo Landing Road. Upon arriving on the scene officers found Sean Smith II, who reported that a 24-year-old woman was wounded as the pair was target practicing in the area. Police say the area is not a designated target practice site.
The woman was taken to North Hawai’i Community Hospital for treatment of a non-life threatening gunshot wound to her leg.
Police arrested Smith. He was taken to the Hilo police cellblock as detective from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued to investigate.
Detectives learned through their investigation that no one else was in the area at the time the gunshot that the injury occurred.
At 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Smith was charged with second-degree reckless endangering and two weapons offenses.
After posting $10,500 bail, Smith was released from police custody.