Waimea man indicted in Kona shooting

A Waimea man was indicted on attempted murder charges following a shooting in Kailua-Kona a week ago.

Shayne Unea appeared in 3rd Circuit Court in Hilo on Friday where Judge Peter K. Kubota maintained bail at $200,000. A trial was set for Jan. 23, 2024.

Unea was initially arrested on Sept. 11 following a report of a shooting. Hawai‘i Island police were alerted to the reported shooting at 11:30 a.m. on Monday when a Kona patrol officer was flagged down while on Kaiminani Drive by a 35-year-old man from Waimea, who reported that he and another male victim had been shot at by a male suspect while seated in their parked vehicle in the 73-4300 block of Lau‘i Street.

No injuries were reported.

After searching the area, officers located and arrested Unea and recovered the 2016 Honda sedan he was operating at the time of the incident.

Thirty-nine rounds of ammunition were found during a search of the vehicle.

Unea is charged with the following:

• Second-degree attempted murder
• Two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening
• Ownership or possession prohibited
• First-degree reckless endangering
• Second-degree reckless endangering
• First-degree criminal property damage
• Driving without a license
• Resisting order to stop

Unea has a history of traffic violations and drug abuse. The 40-year-old was wanted by police in March 2021 on five outstanding warrants for bail jumping and criminal contempt of court related to drug charges.

According to court records, Unea pleaded guilty to second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, a class B felony, on June 9, 2021. He was ultimately granted probation and a deferred acceptance of a guilty plea for four years on the condition that he receive substance abuse treatment.

During a court appearance on Aug. 26, 2022, court minutes indicated that Unea was doing well and was engaged in a substance abuse program. He continued to comply with the terms of his probation.