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Police shoot, kill fugitive

Reinhardt dies from injuries after crashing stolen truck, trading shots with officers

By Colleen Uechi 5 min read

WAILUKU -- A 26-year-old man wanted for attempted murder was killed in a gunfight with police on the corner of Kaohu and Market streets in Wailuku on Sunday morning.

Kaulana "Toji" Reinhardt was driving a stolen red Toyota Tacoma when he crashed into a front yard and then pulled out a handgun and exchanged shots with police, MPD spokesman Lt. Gregg Okamoto said Sunday evening.

Reinhardt was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.

Reinhardt had been on the run since at least Thursday, when police shut down a portion of Kea Street in Kahului after receiving a tip that Reinhardt was possibly at a home on the street. Police searched the home but did not find Reinhardt.

Okamoto said he was wanted for numerous outstanding arrest warrants, including one for first-degree attempted murder, with a bail set at $1 million.

At about 10:35 a.m. Sunday, officers spotted Reinhardt driving a stolen red Toyota Tacoma through Wailuku. They attempted to stop Reinhardt, but he refused to pull over, and a chase ensued.

Neighbors in the area said that's when they heard a loud collision outside their homes.

"I heard a crash, no brakes or anything," said Tom Ochwat, who lives near the house where the shooting happened. "And I step outside and the officer was out (with his gun) drawn and said, 'Get out of your car, get out of your car.' He said it twice."

Ochwat said the man yelled something back at the officer, though in the heat of the moment, Ochwat couldn't recall exactly what it was. About 30 seconds after the crash, he heard four gunshots.

"Not more than 10 seconds after the crash and after the shots, there must have been 15 police cars here just all over the place," said Ochwat, who had to postpone a planned motorcycle ride for a few hours after police shut down the street starting around the Iao Intermediate School sign.

Okamoto said that Reinhardt pulled out a handgun as two officers tried to apprehend him. Shots were exchanged, and Reinhardt was hit. Okamoto said that officers immediately began CPR and applied an automated external defibrillator until medical personnel arrived. Reinhardt was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Okamoto said that one officer sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment. No other officers or bystanders were hurt. Police closed down a portion of South Market Street and Kaohu Street from 11 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. to conduct an investigation.

Okamoto said one of the officers involved had three years of experience, while the other had 15 years. Both have been placed on administrative leave, which is the procedure in these types of investigations.

On Thursday when police asked for the public's help in locating Reinhardt, they described him as 5-foot-9-inches tall and 160 pounds, with brown eyes and short black hair.

Luke Jones, who lives on Kaohu Street, started filming on Snapchat right after the crash and caught the sound of gunshots on video. The exact number is indiscernible, but Jones said it sounded like 10 shots.

"We ducked down right under our Christmas tree," said Jones, who had been cooking tamales with his family.

The sound of the crash brought the three of them out onto the porch. Jones said he didn't see the shooting but saw an officer with his gun drawn. He then heard the officer shout to the man to " 'get on the f—— ground' like it was a movie or something."

"He said that and two seconds later, 'pop pop pop pop' from multiple cops," Jones said.

Jones said the response time was fast, with the ambulance and fire truck arriving in less than a minute after the shooting. The family felt safe enough afterwards to come outside and finish their breakfast.

"We weren't totally traumatized obviously," Jones said. "It was scary nonetheless. Stray bullets are f—— terrifying. But we kept our spirits up. . . . I feel bad for the family."

A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous said that she was just sitting down to breakfast when she heard the crash.

"I thought just two cars when slam," she said. "I'm CPR certified, so I had to come out and check just to make sure. I saw the red truck against the house."

The woman said police had already blocked off the street, and she heard an officer shouting at the man to get on the ground. She couldn't see past her neighbor's truck, but then she heard about six or seven shots within 45 seconds after the crash.

"Before I knew it, the guy was on the ground, and they were trying to revive him," she said.

From her porch, the woman could see the man had cargo pants, a black shirt and "a shaved head like the picture" of Reinhardt that was posted in the media on Thursday.

She said she was "a little shaken up, but I was OK," and stayed indoors the rest of the day cleaning.

"Usually, we're a quiet neighborhood," she said. "We don't get this kind action."

Ochwat said he "did a little prayer" after the shooting.

"Someone's life was lost today," he said. "It's kind of sad."

* Colleen Uechi can be reached at cuechi@mauinews.com.

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