Murder-suicide investigated at Makawao home

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MAKAWAO - Neighbors reported hearing gunshots Monday night in a Makawao neighborhood where police have opened a murder-suicide investigation into a shooting that left a man and a woman dead.

"We were just concerned hearing something like that," said neighbor Becky Serrato, whose family members heard the gunshots. "We were hoping no one got hurt."

Officers responded to the home at 310 Iini Way at 10:15 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting domestic abuse with possible shots fired, according to police. At the home, officers discovered the bodies of a 59-year-old man and 58-year-old woman who may have died of gunshot wounds, police reported.

Autopsies were scheduled for today.

Police didn't release the victims' names Tuesday, saying positive identification needed to be verified.

But Maui County property tax records identified the homeowners as Barry and Karolyn Alford and showed that they bought the home in 1992. The house is near the end of a cul-de-sac in the subdivision consisting of three streets mauka of Makawao Avenue near its intersection with Haleakala Highway.

On Tuesday, neighbors said the couple had lived in the neighborhood since shortly after the subdivision was developed. They said the man was a former police officer, and they believed his wife was retired. They believed the couple lived alone, although a grandchild may have stayed with them in the past.

Serrato said that on Monday night she had fallen asleep on her recliner while watching television news. When she woke up, members of her family asked her, " 'Did you hear the gunshots?' "

"I said no," Serrato said on Tuesday.

She said her husband told her he heard two shots, while her son said he heard three shots.

Soon afterward, she saw police cars heading down the cul-de-sac, and Tuesday morning she learned about the shooting.

"They were good neighbors," she said. "It's very sad to know a tragic (thing) happened (to) good neighbors."

Serrato's son, A.J., heard what he thought was someone hammering. "I never thought it was gunshots," he said.

But soon after, A.J. said, family members saw police shining a spotlight on the victims' home. The family watched from afar as police investigated Monday night.

Mrs. Serrato, who works at Foodland, said the woman used to give her a hug when she shopped at the supermarket.

"She's a nice lady," she said. "She always waves at us, and we wave at them. During holiday times, she brings us fudge.

"She was a dear friend to us. She was a sweet person."

Both mother and son said they didn't hear any commotion before the gunshots.

Another neighbor, Kanani Keau, said she didn't hear anything unusual Monday night. But she did see many police cars at the home.

"I knew something bad wen' happen," she said Tuesday morning.

She said she didn't know the man well but knew his wife, Karolyn.

She said the woman brought her plants and flowers for special occasions and also fudge.

Keau said she house-sat for the couple about two years ago, taking care of their two dogs.

Barry Alford had worked as a sergeant assigned to the receiving desk at the Wailuku Police Station before leaving the Maui Police Department last year.

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