Hilo man shot by police faces many charges but not firearms-related due to non-functioning weapon

Updated at 11:59 a.m. on Feb. 5: Aina Kealoha Bill Cachero, 32 of Hilo, was charged with a litany of offenses on Saturday after being shot by a Hawai‘i police officer the day before during a confrontation involving an active vehicle theft.

Cachero has been released from Hilo Medical Center and is now in police custody.

According to the Hawai’i Police Department, Cachero pulled out a pistol around 11:35 a.m. on Feb. 3 when confronted by officers responding to the vehicle theft in the 500 block of Kukuau Street in Hilo.

Earlier that morning, Cachero had entered a truck and began driving it away before the vehicle’s owner physically stopped and removed him, police said.

Cachero, whose bail has been set at $90,000, now faces the following charges:

• Second-degree robbery
• First-degree theft
• Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle
• Habitual property crime
• Two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening

But Cachero will not face any firearms-related charges.

“The weapon he pulled from his waistband was later examined,” Hawai‘i police said Sunday. “While its appearance, size and weight were consistent with a semi-automatic handgun, the weapon Cachero used in this case was found to not be a functioning firearm.”

The exact nature of the weapon was not immediately clear.

The Office of Professional Standards has initiated a standard internal administrative investigation, according to police, who described the officer who shot Cachero as “a five-year veteran of the department” placed on administrative leave pending an internal review of Friday’s events.

Cachero is no stranger to involvement with police. He is also being held on $44,000 bail, for charges stemming from an unrelated incident reported in late January.

“[A] female victim reported her apartment on Kinoole Street, in Hilo, was entered while she was asleep, and her purse with credit cards and car keys were removed,” police said. “The victim also reported that her vehicle was stolen, and later learned that her credit cards were fraudulently used. During the course of this investigation, Cachero and 19-year-old Shayla-Rae Pomroy were identified as suspects.”

Pomroy was arrested and charged on Jan. 26. Cachero has been charged with:

• First-degree theft
• Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle
• Habitual property crime
• Theft of credit card
• Unauthorized possession personal confidential information
• Fraud use credit card
• Third-degree identity theft
• Fourth-degree theft

Court records show Cachero is already on a four-year probation for a Class C felony – unauthorized entry in a dwelling in the second degree – to which he pled no contest in April 2022.

Cachero has felony convictions in Hawai’i County dating back to 2010.

In April 2011, Hawai‘i police arrested Cachero following a report of an intoxicated man causing a disturbance on a Hele-On bus. At that time, Cachero – who reportedly stole the cellphone of the driver attempting to call police – was charged with second-degree robbery (a Class B felony), interference with the operator of a public transit vehicle (a Class C felony), interference with reporting an emergency or crime (a petty misdemeanor) and disorderly conduct (a petty misdemeanor).

Cachero remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon, Feb. 6, 2023, in Hilo District Court.

Updated at 4:38 p.m. on Feb. 3: A 32-year-old Hilo man, who Hawai’i Island police say was armed with a pistol, is hospitalized and expected to make a full recovery after being shot this afternoon by a police officer.

The incident began after South Hilo patrol was called out at approximately 11:35 a.m. to the 500 block of Kukuau Street in Hilo, for a report of an active vehicle theft from a residence. When they arrived on scene, officers made contact with the victim who described the suspect, who had left area on foot.

Additional responding officers immediately canvassed the area looking for the suspect.

According to a Hawai‘i police press release, officers located a male matching the suspect description walking south on Kumukoa Street at 11:56 a.m.

“As officers attempted to contact the man to identify him, he immediately began to run away, at which point he was observed reaching into his waistband area, pulling out a dark-colored pistol, and turning his body towards the officers,” the release stated. “One of the officers pursuing the suspect drew his weapon, and clear verbal commands were given by officers. The suspect ignored the officers’ lawful commands, and one officer subsequently discharged his duty weapon, striking the suspect in the upper shoulder area.”

Officers on scene immediately performed first aid on the suspect until Hawai‘i Fire Department medics arrived and took over. The suspect was then arrested and transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical CenterHilo Medical Center. He remains hospitalized and is expected to make a full recovery.

There were no reported injuries to bystanders or the responding officers and Kumukoa Street between Mohouli and Ho’opuni Streets has reopened.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation.

The Office of Professional Standards has initiated a standard internal administrative investigation. The involved officer is a five-year veteran of the department, and will be placed on administrative leave pending an internal review of this incident.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 or Detective Paul Mangus of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2383 or Paul.Mangus@hawaiicounty.gov.

Original post:

A portion of Mohouli Street in Hilo is closed following an officer-involved shooting, Hawai‘i police confirms this afternoon.

Both the officer and suspect involved are alive and the suspect is in custody. The area is still an active scene.

Kumukoa St. between Mohouli and Ho’opuni streets is closed for the next 4 hours. Motorists are advised to detour using Mohouli St. or Ponahawai Street.

A nearby driver captured a photo of the police presence at Kumukoa and Mohouli Streets.

Hawai‘i police said it will release more information regarding the incident later this afternoon.

Editorʻs note: This report was updated with traffic information.