DNA ties man to attack on cab driver
Gregory Kaahanui is charged with attempted murder
When neither a witness nor taxicab driver Yu Kyo Kim could identify the man who allegedly shot and robbed him three weeks earlier in July, police turned to DNA evidence for help.
Police obtained DNA from a bloodstain on the collar of a jacket left in Kim's taxivan.
The profile of the blood matched the DNA of 25-year-old Gregory Maika Kaahanui of Kahaluu, who was a suspect in the police lineup, according to a police affidavit.
Kaahanui was charged yesterday with second-degree attempted murder, second-degree robbery and firearm violations. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
On July 28, Kim, a driver with The Cab, picked up a passenger in Kailua and drove him to Aiea.
The passenger told him to take him to an automated teller machine, police said. Kim drove him to the Pearlridge branch of First Hawaiian Bank at 98-1071 Moanalua Road.
Kim said he heard a loud noise and smelled smoke as he drove to the ATM, the affidavit said. The man demanded money, and Kim finally realized he had been shot, police said.
Police said a struggle began and Kim grabbed the handgun. He fell out of the taxi but was able to take the handgun from the gunman, police said.
Kim had been shot in the neck and was later taken to the Queen's Medical Center.
The man then drove off in the taxivan, which was recovered unoccupied, with the engine running, on Likelike Highway later that night.
A witness saw the man jump out of the van and flee toward Kaneohe but failed to later identify Kaahanui.
Police recovered a white jacket with bloodstains near the van and a ski cap left in the van.
Police later received an anonymous tip that Kaahanui was heard bragging about the shooting of a cabdriver, the police affidavit said.
Police located him and did a lineup on Aug. 19, but Kim was unable to identify him.
On Sept. 12, Kaahanui was in police custody on an unrelated case and, after waiving his constitutional rights, provided a statement.
Kaahanui voluntarily provided a DNA sample that matched blood on the jacket collar and the ski cap.
Kaahanui was out on bail for two burglaries.
Police located and arrested Kaahanui at Heeia Kea Pier 12:54 p.m. Wednesday for second-degree attempted murder and robbery.
"It's 'CSI,'" said Jim Fulton, spokesman for the City Prosecutor's Office, referring to the TV show. "This is actually CSI work. It takes a while, but 'CSI,' they get it back in 15 minutes. But at least this is a pretty clear link."