Kona Shooting Suspect Evades Police, Remains At Large

Walter Gomes III. PC: Hawaiʻi Island Police

A man identified as the suspect in a shooting in Kona on Wednesday, managed to evade police early this morning and remained at large at last report.

Authorities say Kona patrol officers located 41-year-old Walter Gomes III and his vehicle, at around 2:05 a.m. near Maiau Street in Kona.

Upon contacting Gomes, police say he refused to comply with the verbal commands of officers and allegedly drove his vehicle toward police, striking a police vehicle.

Three officers discharged their firearms; however, the driver was able to flee the area.

Gomes was identified by Hawaiʻi Island Police as a suspect in a shooting incident on Wednesday, March 20.

According to department reports, patrol officers responded to the Kona Community Hospital at around 7:07 p.m., where a female individual had been transported by private vehicle for treatment of a single, non-life threatening gunshot wound.

Police say Gomes was last seen operating a white 2003 Cadillac Escalade, license plate ZFC915. Police caution the public from approaching him, saying he is considered armed and dangerous.  Instead, anyone with information is asked to call police at (808) 935-3311 to report Gomes’ location.

The Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigations Section is conducting a criminal investigation into this morning’s shooting and the Office of Professional Standards is conducting an administrative investigation as part of standard practice in any police-involved shooting.