HILO — A Pahoa man accused of shooting at a Pahoa woman was charged Thursday with terroristic threatening and reckless endangering in the first degree.
Wesley Kaimana Brooks, 31, was arrested Tuesday after an incident Monday when he allegedly fired a gun at a woman on a Hawaiian Beaches road.
According to a police report, a 26-year-old woman left a residence on Kawakawa Street in the early morning hours of Monday after receiving texts from Brooks threatening to kill her and a friend.
The woman and a 27-year-old man drove around the subdivision, whereupon they noticed they were being followed by a green Toyota.
They returned to the Kawakawa Street residence, and the Toyota pulled into the driveway immediately thereafter, according to police.
Brooks allegedly left the Toyota brandishing a silver-colored revolver and began shouting at the woman and threatened to shoot her. When she made as if to approach Brooks, he fired two shots, both of which missed her but one of which struck the vehicle.
Brooks allegedly then fled the scene in the Toyota, but not before being witnessed by another resident, who ultimately helped identify Brooks, leading to his arrest.
It was later determined that the Toyota had been reported stolen by another resident earlier this month, and had had its license plates swapped with those of another vehicle, according to police. Another man, 32-year-old Carlos Lopez of Pahoa, reportedly was driving the vehicle during Monday’s incident; he has not been arrested.
In addition to the charges of first-degree terroristic threatening and reckless endangering, Brooks is charged with criminal property damage, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and unauthorized control of a motor vehicle. His bail on all his charges is $30,020.
Both first-degree terroristic threatening and reckless endangering are Class C felonies and carry maximum possible sentences of five years’ imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000.
During Brooks’ court appearance Thursday, Deputy Public Defender Isaac Ickes filed a motion to withdraw from the case, citing a conflict of interest. He was then replaced by private defense attorney Donald Wilkerson.
Brooks’ preliminary hearing will take place April 8.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
