Man who died The 36-year-old man who died in a gun battle with police in Kaneohe had crystal methamphetamine in his system, according to a Honolulu medical examiner.
in shootout had
crystal meth in
body, doc says
By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comDr. Kanthi von Guenthner said Arnold Willets also had marijuana in his body at the time of his death and her office is awaiting results to see if he had other illegal substances. She declined to reveal the amount of drugs pending completion of an autopsy report.
Willets died after a low-speed chase and a gun fight with police, who fired more than 130 rounds. Von Guenthner said Willets died from a gunshot wound to his face but did not specify how many bullets hit him. Willets suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including three to his face, a police source said.
Christopher Edenfield, who said he and his 22-month-old son were unwilling passengers in the truck, said yesterday he was concerned about the safety of his son Kyle.
Edenfield spoke to the media at his grandmother's Kahaluu home yesterday as he recuperated from three gunshot wounds to his neck, thigh and left hand. Two bullets are still lodged in his neck and thigh, he said.
Police said Willets kidnapped Edenfield and his son at gunpoint from their Kahaluu home after he rammed a police vehicle with his truck at a nearby park.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Christopher Edenfield, recovering at home yesterday, was shot in the neck, hand and thigh while in the truck with his son Kyle, 22 months, and Arnold Willets, who was killed.
Edenfield, 22, said he was asleep in his room with his son when Willets entered the home through the back door, armed with a shotgun. Willets said police were following him and he needed someone to come with him so police wouldn't shoot at him, Edenfield said. After Willets grabbed Kyle, he followed his son to the truck, he said.
Though Willets was armed with a shotgun, Edenfield's attorney, David Gierlach, said, "There were no threats to kill him (Edenfield)."
Police said a pursuit began after officers saw Willets, Edenfield and his son get into the truck. Shortly afterward, police said, Willets began shooting at officers.
During the police chase, Edenfield pleaded with Willets not to shoot and to release his son, he said.
"I was scared for his life more than my own," said Edenfield.
Police fired more than 130 rounds at the truck after it got hung up on a retaining wall at Kaneohe District Park.
During the shooting, Edenfield said he shielded his son, climbed over Willets and forced his son out the driver's side window.
"If we stayed in that truck any longer, we could've got killed," he said.
Honolulu police Maj. Darryl Perry said police are continuing their investigation of the shooting.
Edenfield was indicted on Sept. 17 on two counts of third-degree sexual assault involving two girls who are less than 14 years old. On Oct. 1, Edenfield surrendered to police and was released after posting bail of $20,000.
