A Hilo jury on Thursday found a 32-year-old Hilo man guilty of first-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault in the shootings of two police officers on Jan. 2, 2013.
Keaka Martin was also convicted of two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, carrying a loaded firearm on a street or highway, illegal place to keep a pistol and second-degree reckless endangering. He was found not guilty of altering the identification marks of a firearm.
Martin appeared emotionless as the verdict was read, as he had throughout the course of the 11-week trial. He faces a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the first-degree attempted murder conviction.
Sentencing is set for 9 a.m. June 20 before 3rd Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura.
Martin was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of Hilo Patrol Officer Joshua Gouveia in the parking lot of the Pono Place on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo. He was also charged with attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of Hilo Patrol Officer Garrett Hatada, but was found guilty of the lesser included offense of first-degree assault.
Both officers suffered wounds to their lower extremities and both have since returned to duty.
Following an extensive manhunt, Martin was taken into custody at his sister’s East Palai Street residence. As the police Special Response Team closed in, Martin shot himself in the chest with a 9mm pistol, but survived.
Deputy Prosecutor Darien Nagata said the state is “pleased with the verdict.”
“The police are here to protect us and the jury recognized that. Justice is served,” she said.
County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said the verdict sends a message that “the community is not going to tolerate these kinds of actions.”
“People break the law and not only the prosecutors and police, but the people will hold them accountable,” he said.
Martin’s court-appointed attorney, Steve Strauss, said his client will “explore all his potential avenues of appeal.”
“Obviously, he is disappointed with the return of the verdict,” he said.
Strauss argued during trial that neither officer could place Martin at the scene nor identify him as the individual who shot from beneath a modified van in the darkened parking lot. He argued that there was no intent to kill, as the shooter had fired only three shots and had the opportunity to kill the wounded officers but didn’t do so.
Hatada and Gouveia were in the courtroom gallery when the verdict was read. A number of other police officers were there and several offered their congratulations.
Afterward, Gouveia expressed “happiness that we’re over this.”
“I believe the jury did the best they could with the information they had,” he said.
Also present was Martin’s mother, who declined to comment.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.