‘Accidental Gunshot’ Kills Hāwī Man

An accidental gunshot wound killed a 32-year-old Hāwī man Saturday, according to the Hawai’i Police Department.

Police responded to Kapa’au Saturday at 8:30 p.m. to a report of an unconscious man with a hole in his chest.

Hawai’i County Fire Department personnel were already on scene when HPD arrived. The firefighters attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on the man, identified as Aaron Kondo, before he was taken to Kohala Hospital.

Kondo was pronounced dead at 8:55 p.m.

An investigation has led HPD to learn that Kondo had driven a pickup truck to check pig traps that were on private property off Kekoa Uhane Road. Kondo failed to return home so his family went to check on him. When they located Kondo, he was unresponsive with a wound to the left side of his chest.

It was determined by Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section that a rifle stored in the cab of Kondo’s truck was discharged after Kondo attempted to pull it out of the truck by the barrel. Police say an item inside of the truck caught the gun’s trigger.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. The case has been classified as a coroner’s inquest.