Police open attempted murder case after man shot while driving to Kihei
A police officer stops traffic at Hansen Road and Maui Veterans Highway on Wednesday night while police investigate the shooting of a driver on the highway. The Maui New / LILA FUJIMOTO photo
A bullet hole is shown in the driver’s side window of a vehicle after a shooting reported Wednesday night on Maui Veterans Highway. Courtesy photo
A police officer stops traffic at Hansen Road and Maui Veterans Highway on Wednesday night while police investigate the shooting of a driver on the highway. The Maui New / LILA FUJIMOTO photo
A bullet hole is shown in the driver’s side window of a vehicle after a shooting reported Wednesday night on Maui Veterans Highway. Courtesy photo
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The Maui News
Police opened an attempted murder investigation after a 66-year-old man was shot in the head Wednesday night while driving toward Kihei on Maui Veterans Highway.
Police responded to the area of the highway near Mile Marker 5 at 6:32 p.m. after a report that the man had suffered a gunshot wound while driving. Police arrived to find the part-time Kihei resident in the driver's seat with a gunshot wound to the side of his head, police said.
He was transported in critical but stable condition to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he remained Thursday morning, police said.
Maui Veterans Highway was closed in both directions while police investigated, with the road reopening at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
"At this time, investigators do not believe there to be a threat to public safety, as it appears to be an isolated event," police said in a news release Thursday.
Police spokeswoman Alana Pico did not respond when asked whether police believed the driver was targeted. She also did not respond when asked to provide more information about the shooting, including where the shot came from and whether there was a suspect or suspects.
"As stated in the press release issued this morning, it is an ongoing investigation and would be inappropriate to release additional comments at this time," she said by email Thursday afternoon.
Police asked anyone with information on the shooting to call police at (808) 244-6400.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Maui Crime Stoppers at (808) 242-6966. Callers to Crime Stoppers are given a code number. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of people responsible for felony crimes.