Diver who died was a San Diego lawyer
A scuba diver who died after being found unconscious off Hawaii Kai has been identified by the city Department of the Medical Examiner as Philip A. Demassa, 67, of San Diego.
Online newspaper stories describe Demassa as a prominent San Diego defense lawyer known for representing high-profile criminal defendants.
The city Medical Examiner’s Office said a determination of the cause of death was deferred, pending further studies. Police said Demassa was found unconscious in waters off Hawaii Kai at about 9:12 a.m. Sunday. He was part of a commercial ocean dive excursion. A boat took him ashore, where paramedics and fire rescue personnel assisted him.
Suspect in bank shooting remains at large
Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man who shot two people Friday night in Waipahu.
The victims, a 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, drove to the parking lot of Bank of Hawaii at 94-712 Farrington Highway at 7:42 p.m. and were approached by an unknown man brandishing a handgun, police said.
The man demanded that they exit the vehicle and fired several shots when the driver tried to drive away. The victims were taken to the hospital in serious condition. Witnesses saw the gunman flee on foot. He may have gotten into a light-colored SUV that was parked at Waipahu Festival Market Place at 94-320 Waipahu Depot Road.
The gunman was described as 30 to 40 years old and 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall. He had a medium to husky build and black hair; he wore a black bandanna over his face, light-colored shorts and a black T-shirt.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Catamaran’s propellers injure swimmer
A North Carolina woman suffered serious injuries after being cut by the propellers of a catamaran in waters off Kaanapali while she was swimming.
Maui County Paramedics Association spokesman Ryan Joslin said the woman, who had injuries to her arms and legs, was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center.
The incident occurred at 11:03 a.m. Tuesday, and emergency medics were at the scene at 11:11 a.m., Joslin said. The double-hulled catamaran was loading and offloading passengers at the time, he said. She was pulled to shore where emergency crews assessed her condition.
David Weiss, executive vice president of Teralani Sailing Adventures catamaran, said he was declining comment, pending a Coast Guard investigation.
