Slaying victim identified; suspect sought

WAILUKU - Police were continuing to look for a suspect Monday in the murder of a 45-year-old Kaupo man who was shot to death Sunday morning in Kaupo.

The victim was identified Monday as Alan Vegas.

Police said he died from a single gunshot wound, which caused internal bleeding.

Records indicate police were called at 9:59 a.m. Sunday to the remote area. The shooting occurred on undeveloped land off a dirt road mauka of the highway on the Hana side of Kaupo General Store.

Vegas was driven out of the area, then flown by helicopter to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:33 a.m.

Police said no other details would be released Monday, as the investigation into Vegas' death continued.

According to court records, Vegas was sentenced in June 2004 to five years in prison after being convicted of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, assault on a police officer, attempted second-degree theft and bail jumping.

As a repeat offender, he was ordered to serve at least three years and four months of the term before being eligible for parole.

He was arrested after police were called to investigate a suspicious vehicle parked in the middle of Hapapa Road in Kula at 3:32 a.m. Oct 23, 2002. After having his eyes closed and initially not responding to repeated knocks on the windows of the locked sedan, Vegas opened the door and appeared to be drugged, police reported.

Officers said he appeared to be hiding something and, after being asked to get out of the car, ran from Hapapa Road onto Kekaulike Avenue and Pulehuiki Road before sliding down a grass-and-brush embankment. In a ditch at the bottom of the embankment, Vegas struggled with two officers who ran after him, grabbing the holstered pistol of one officer before he was handcuffed, police reported.

Police reported recovering methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The murder is the second this year in Maui County, following the Jan. 5 stabbing death of 33-year-old John Shaniyo in his residence on West Kauai Street in Kahului. His girlfriend, 24-year-old Rachael Berta, is awaiting trial on a charge of second-degree murder.

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