A witness to the shooting of two police officers in Hilo 13 months ago said Tuesday he became, by default, the getaway driver for the alleged shooter.
Testifying in the attempted murder trial of Keaka Martin in 3rd Circuit Court, Kawika Paulino said the 32-year-old Martin jumped into the rear passenger side of Paulino’s Ford Explorer shortly after the shooting and “told me to drive.” Martin is accused of the Jan. 2, 2013, shootings of officers Garrett Hatada and Joshua Gouveia.
Paulino, who said he knew Martin, testified that he was fishing in Wailoa Pond by the Pono Place that evening when he heard “about 20 gunshots … coming from Wailoa (State Park) area.” He said he called 911 to report the gunfire and police arrived within “about 10 minutes” and told him that if there were any other developments, to call them back.
Paulino testified that a short while later, he saw Martin and another person “walking down the ramp toward Pono Place.”
Martin “had a gun,” Paulino said.
Paulino said Martin told him that he had been “in the middle of Wailoa shooting the gun” and “he didn’t want to go in (to jail).”
Paulino said police arrived a second time and Martin “disappeared.”
“I thought he ran,” he testified.
Paulino said an officer approached a black van in the lot.
“I overheard him say ‘hold your position,’” Paulino said. “Shortly after that, gunshots were being fired. … I immediately started up my car and took off.”
Martin then “came up from the ground, jumped in the back of my family’s car and told me to drive,” Paulino continued.
Paulino said he drove to the Hilo Lagoon Center and stopped in front of the building.
“I was devastated and my wife was freaking out and my son was in the back and I just kind of looked at Keaka and asked him to leave, not to do this to me and my family. And he then got out and that’s where he parted from my vehicle,” Paulino said.
Hatada is expected to testify when trial resumes this morning in Judge Greg Nakamura’s courtroom.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.