Officer justified returning
gunfire in Mililani incident

Two face charges in the August
incident that started at a baby luau

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

A special-duty police officer acted in self-defense when he returned gunfire on a gun-toting party crasher in August at a Mililani baby luau, city prosecutors have determined.

"The suspect fired first. The officer was justified AAA... in returning fire," Deputy Prosecutor Lawrence Grean said.

Officer Darren Kitagawa, who was in uniform, responded to a commotion at the Mililani Recreational Center, where Jason Rumbawa allegedly used a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol to threaten people attending a baby luau on Aug. 15.

Rumbawa, Michael Maristella and another friend crashed the party. When they were asked to leave, they refused and problems arose, Grean said.

Rumbawa, who had a gun tucked in his waist, threatened several people, Grean said. "There was quite a ruckus and commotion," Grean said.

Kitagawa heard screams and went to the area.

He saw Rumbawa and ordered him to drop the weapon.

Rumbawa allegedly got into a car driven by Maristella.

Kitagawa chased the car on foot. At one point, Kitagawa saw Rumbawa come out of the passenger window, sit on the window and fire five shots, Grean said.

Kitagawa then fired two shots in return.

No one was wounded by the shots.

Charges of first-degree attempted murder of a police officer, five counts of terroristic threatening, and firearms offenses are pending against Rumbawa, 18, of Aiea.

Maristella, 19, also of Aiea, was charged with firearms offenses and hindering prosecution.

Grean, who supervises the screening and intake of cases, said the use of deadly force was justified for several reasons.

Rumbawa was armed and was committing a felony, and Kitagawa was justified in trying to stop him, Grean said.

Rumbawa also shot first, prompting Kitagawa to act in self-defense by returning fire, Grean said.