Oahu grand jury indicts teen in shooting death of Makaha man
An Oahu grand jury indicted a 17-year-old Maili teen today on murder and firearms violations in connection with the Feb. 17 killing of the 39-year-old owner of Ohikilolo Ranch in Makaha, according to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.
Chantston Pila Kekawa was indicted for second degree murder, first-degree terroristic threatening, firearm offenses and first-degree theft.
Pila Kekawa allegedly shot and killed Cranston Pia with a single gunshot to his right temple after a fight over Pila Kekawa’s hunting dogs.
Pia’s mother told police that her son armed himself with a rifle, fired a warning shot, and confronted hunters whose dogs attacked cattle on their property.
Pila Kekawa’s attorney has said his client shot and killed Pia in self-defense, after Pia fired first at Pila Kekawa and his dogs.
Second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.
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“Mr. Pila Kekawa resorted to an extreme and horrific act of violence toward the victim, whose property was endangered as a result of Mr. Pila Kekawa’s actions,” Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm said in a statement. “We have taken steps to address this execution-style murder by this defendant by waiving him as a juvenile and charging him in adult court with these serious crimes.”
The court approved a request by prosecutors that Pila be held without bail until trial. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lawrence Sousie presented the prosecution’s case to the grand jury, according to a news release.
According to state court documents, at 2:34 p.m. Feb. 17, Honolulu police officers were sent to the ranch after Cranston Pia’s mother reported “hunters that were pointing a firearm” at her son. Pia was raising a calf and cattle in a pen, where the calf was attacked by a hunting dog. Pia’s mother was calling 911 as the calf was attacked and said she witnessed her son get shot in the head