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Police see
pattern in series
of crimes

Authorities believe the same
suspects might have committed
seven crimes, including
armed robberies

By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

Suspects arrested in connection with a Feb. 8 home invasion in Pearl City may have been involved in up to six earlier crimes this year, according to police.

Honolulu Detective Robert Cravalho said some of the suspects may have taken part in armed robberies at a Flamingo Restaurant Hi-Way Service gas station in Pearl City, three burglaries in Mililani and a vehicle fire in the Schofield area.

The home invasion was the only case in which someone was injured. A 53-year-old man was shot in the leg after five masked males entered his home and forced him to the floor. The suspects fled empty-handed after the shooting.

The victim was treated at Queens Hospital and is recuperating at home, Cravalho said.

"At this point we believe the shooting was an accident," Cravalho said. He said one or more of the suspects knew the family and expected to find a large sum of cash or jewelry in the house.

"It appears their intention was to rob the house, not hurt anybody," the detective said.

A lack of evidence at the scene impeded the follow-up investigation, but police arrested the suspected 17-year-old shooter on Feb. 18 after three possible suspects were identified in a CrimeStoppers tip. Interviews helped police identify two other suspects.

Two 18-year-olds and one 16-year-old were arrested Tuesday. An 18-year-old suspect is still at large, but police said they are confident he will be apprehended.

All the suspects reside in the Mililani area and attend or attended Mililani High School. However, police don't think the crimes are gang-related.

"They're not organized like a gang," Cravalho said.