Woman shot in murder-suicide dies 3 days later

A 24-year-old Hilo woman, shot three days ago in an apparent murder-suicide, died yesterday morning, police sad.

Jolene Medeiros had been taken to Hilo Medical Center in critical condition after the shooting about 7 p.m. Wednesday in Piihonua.

Medeiros and her ex-boyfriend, Harry Batalona Jr., leave behind a 7-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son.

Batalona, 28, died of a sin

Police Capt. Randall Medeiros said Batalona shot Medeiros several times in the head and right forearm with a small-caliber semi-automatic rifle as she sat alone in her car in his driveway on Manaolana Place.

Family Court documents show Medeiros was granted a temporary restraining order on Dec. 21 to protect her and her two children from Batalona. He had been scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to respond to the order.

Drive-by shooter gets 20-year term

LIHUE » A 27-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with a drive-by shooting at a Kapaa McDonald's restaurant in June 2008.

Taekyu U of Kapaa was sentenced Thursday on weapons and reckless endangering charges. He originally was charged with attempted first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty in August to the lesser charges.

Fifth Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano could have given U 72 years because of the multiple charges he faced.

U admitted to firing two shots that narrowly missed people standing outside the restaurant at Waipouli Town Center.

He apologized and said he acted without the knowledge of his nephew and co-defendant, Brock-Alan Reyes.

U told the court he has been clean and sober for four months.

Brish fire smolders in a remote forest above Pacific Palissades

A fire helicopter was scheduled to return at dawn today to assess a brush fire above the Pacific Palisades.

The fire was reported at about 6:15 p.m. last night, located two miles from the end of Komo Mai Drive, said Capt. Terry Seelig.

The blaze was smoldering in remote forest land.

Fire helicopter rescues three hikers

A fire helicopter rescued three men in their 20s who were at the top of Koolau Ridge near the Hauula Loop Trail after dark last night.

A friend who was worried about the hikers called for help at 7:13 p.m., said fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

A fire helicopter picked up the men with a net and transported them to Hauula Elementary School by 8:45 p.m., Seelig said.

Kalihi wildfire burned close to preschool

Firefighters extinguished a half-acre wildfire in Kalihi that came close to a preschool, but didn't cause any damage.

The fire was reported at about 1:15 p.m. yesterday in scrub land sloping up the mountain behind houses on Akahi Street, said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

The fire burned to within 100 feet of Ulupono Preschool.

About 10 firefighters stretched lines over the hillside and brought water on engines to fight the blaze, which was extinguished by about 3 p.m.

No one was hurt and the cause remained undetermined.

Injured man airlifted from Mokulua island

A fire helicopter airlifted a man in his 40s to safety yesterday after he hurt his ankle while on the larger of the two Mokulua Islands near Kailua.

A bystander called firefighters to report the man needed help on the far side of Moku Nui at 3:16 p.m., said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

Firefighters first reached the man by boat and treated him until a fire helicopter picked him up by net, then dropped him off at Kailua Beach Park.

The man was transferred to paramedics about 4 p.m., Seelig said.

3 teenagers in stolen vehicle are arrested

Police arrested three teenagers allegedly caught in a stolen vehicle early yesterday morning in Honolulu.

About 2:15 a.m., an officer spotted a Honda Civic traveling on Piikoi Street that matched the description of a car reported stolen from Waikiki shortly after midnight.

The officer confirmed it was stolen and stopped the car near Beretania Street.

Police booked an 18-year-old man, a 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl on suspicion of driving a stolen car and entering a stolen vehicle.

Object from high-rise hits car; man arrested

A 26-year-old man was arrested Friday after a taxi driver reported an object tossed from a high-rise condominium in Waikiki damaged his taxi.

About 3:30 a.m., the 51-year-old driver told police he was driving on Ala Wai Boulevard when he heard a loud bang and his windshield and trunk lid were damaged.

A witness told officers that he saw an object thrown from a nearby building. An investigation led officers to a unit on the 18th floor, where the 26-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of first-degree reckless endangering.