Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gerald Wike
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 266
Report No. C14031123
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island police received numerous calls Tuesday night (November 18) reporting what sounded like gunfire at various locations in Keauhou.
Upon receiving the initial 8:41 p.m. call, Kona Patrol officers responded to the vicinity. Shortly before 9 p.m., they located a pickup truck on a dirt road off Kaleiopapa Drive and made contact with three men inside. While speaking to the occupants, officers observed a rifle, which was not loaded, inside the truck.
The three Kailua-Kona men, 26-year-old Jeffrey Horton, 24-year-old Matthew Canter and 20-year-old Armando Mejia, were arrested on suspicion of place to keep an unloaded firearm. Horton was also arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The three men were taken to the Kona police cellblock while detectives continued the investigation. The firearm and truck were recovered as evidence.
After conferring with prosecutors, police released the three men Wednesday morning (November 11) pending further investigation.
Police did not receive any reports of injuries or property damage in connection with this incident. They ask anyone with any information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Shawn Tingle at 326-4646, extension 277, or stingle@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
