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Kealoha had
revolver taped
to his hand,
detective says
Tests this week will determine
By Rod Ohira
whether he was under the influence
of drugs when he shot himself
Star-BulletinDominic Kealoha walked away from police with a revolver pointed at his head, determined not to go back to prison.
"The gun was taped to his hand with the hammer cocked," Det. Henry Nobriga told the Star-Bulletin today. Kealoha shot himself at about 2:10 Friday morning, ending a standoff with police on Farrington Highway in Nanakuli that halted traffic along the Waianae Coast for more than 13 hours.
"Basically, he was determined to do what he was going to do."
Specialized Service Division officers fired five nonlethal "beanbag" rounds at Kealoha when he ignored warnings to halt and began running toward the beach.
Each "beanbag" shooter was backed up by an officer prepared to fire live rounds if Kealoha pointed the gun at police, Nobriga said.
The "beanbag" rounds were used for the first time in the Kealoha incident, police said. It is uncertain if the five rounds that struck him in the body caused him to fall or if he tripped near an embankment, Nobriga said.
While down, Kealoha shot himself in the temple. The five-shot revolver, which was reported stolen in a recent burglary, had several rounds remaining, Nobriga said.
Kealoha, who was wanted for violating parole, had spent nearly 13 hours in a stolen black Camaro --mostly lying down in the back seat -- before he came out of the car shortly before 2 a.m. Friday.
"The whole time we were negotiating with him, he was having highs and lows," Nobriga said. "The negotiators talked to him about giving himself up. There were lots of times that it looked like he would do it then he'd stop and basically say to us, 'Come and get me.' "
Natasha Gonsalves, 19, who remained in the car with Kealoha for about 3-1/2 hours, told police that Kealoha kept telling her to leave, Nobriga said.
Gonsalves was with Kealoha last Thursday morning when he allegedly shot another man at Depot Beach Park in Nanakuli in a dispute over stolen cars, Nobriga said.
Kealoha and Gonsalves drove around in a stolen Honda before dumping the car in Waianae.
"She says someone gave them a ride to Waipahu where they hoped to pick up drugs," Nobriga said. They allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint of his black Camaro and wallet at a Hiapaiole Loop residence.
The man who was robbed had gone to the Hiapaiole Loop home to visit the resident, who was not at home, Nobriga said.
Gonsalves is being held on an outstanding warrant related to a domestic incident and has not been charged with any offenses related to Kealoha's activities Thursday.
The medical examiner's office says Kealoha died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Tests will be performed this week to determine if Kealoha was high on drugs.
