Escape and shooting update No. 2 04-14-06

HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION
CAPTAIN CHAD FUKUI
TELEPHONE: 961-2251
REPORT NO. C06011362

APRIL 14, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE NO.2

Preliminary results of an autopsy conducted Friday, April 14, 2006, indicate that Thane Leialoha died from a distant penetrating gunshot wound to the head.

Leialoha, 28, of Hilo was pronounced dead Wednesday, April 12, after police responded at 2:09 p.m. to a report of a shooting in downtown Hilo. When officers arrived at the area near the intersection of Haili Street and Keawe Street, they determined that an Adult Correctional Officer from Hawaii Community Correctional Center shot Leialoha, an HCCC inmate, as he was being transported back to the jail from court. Preliminary investigation determined that Leialoha was fleeing from the transport van at the time of the shooting.

A Fire Department rescue crew transported the injured inmate to the emergency room at Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:56 p.m. the same day.

Following the autopsy Friday morning, police released Leialoha’s body to his family.

A final autopsy report will be submitted after completion of a toxicology analysis.

Hilo Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Section are continuing the investigation.

Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the escape and shooting to call Detective Richard Sherlock at 961-2379 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

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