Harbor Lights gunman faces federal firearms prosecution

By LILA FUJIMOTO, Staff Writer
A man arrested after a standoff at a Kahului condominium complex this year is facing federal prosecution through a program targeting illegal guns and ammunition.

Kadon Zimmerman, 30, was indicted on a federal charge of being a felon in possession of firearms in connection with his arrest Feb. 25 at the Harbor Lights complex. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 23 in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.

State charges against Zimmerman were dismissed last week after he was indicted March 25 in federal court. He was referred for federal prosecution under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative aimed at removing from communities criminals who commit certain firearms offenses.

In the federal court system, convicts face a greater likelihood of incarceration and longer prison terms, serving their sentences at Mainland prisons.

According to an affidavit supporting a federal criminal complaint filed last month, Maui police officers went to the Harbor Lights complex on Kahului Beach Road at about 4:45 p.m. after police received a 911 call from a woman who reported that Zimmerman was in a unit in Building D, “high on ice” and in possession of firearms. Police had a no-bail parole-violation warrant for Zimmerman’s arrest.

As officers were talking to the 911 caller at the complex, Zimmerman appeared at a Building D exit door, looked at the officers, then ran back into the building and into a unit where he had been staying. Officers followed but were blocked at the door by a woman in the unit.

After removing the woman, officers entered and found Zimmerman hiding in a bedroom. Refusing to comply with officers’ orders, Zimmerman held a pistol that he pressed against the right side of his head.

Police evacuated about 100 residents from the building and closed nearby streets to traffic while police negotiators talked with Zimmerman.

One gunshot from the pistol was discharged at 5:23 p.m., according to the complaint, and a police officer saw Zimmerman with a shotgun in the unit as well.

After about eight hours of negotiations, Zimmerman gave up the the shotgun by sliding it into the hallway. Two hours later, he did the same with the pistol before he surrendered shortly after midnight.

Special Agent Ty Torco of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives later examined the firearms — a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22-caliber pistol.

As a felon with convictions for second-degree assault and felony abuse, Zimmerman was prohibited from possessing guns.

If convicted of the federal charge, he could face up to 10 years in prison.

• Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.