Police arrest suspect in Kalihi murder case
COURTESY PHOTO
Kyen Knowles.
Police arrested a suspect tonight in the murder case involving a man pinned under his own car.
The 33-year-old man was arrested at 7:15 p.m. in Kalihi on suspicion of second-degree murder, Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Yu said.
Police reclassified the death of the Kyen Knowles, 36, of Kalihi as murder after initially calling it a motor vehicle accident.
Family members said Friday that Knowles had gotten into an argument at a fast-food restaurant while picking up food for his kids, and on the way home someone fired a gun at him on Waterhouse Street.
His death certificate reveals that someone shot at Knowles, prompting him to try to get out of the car. However, it struck and rolled over him, pinning him under a tire.
The medical examiner found Knowles died of mechanical asphyxia and ruled the death a homicide. He had no gunshot wound.
Knowles’ ex-wife, Violet George, said they have three small children who were visiting their dad at the time of his death.
“He didn’t have to go this way,” said George by telephone today. “He has children, still babies, still learning life. Now they got to learn without their dad. Our son’s birthday is next week. Our daughter’s is in July. It’s going to be her first year going to school. Her daddy won’t be there to say, ‘Hey, how’s school?’ She’s going to be heartbroken.”
A nearby convenience store’s surveillance video provided some evidence of what happened. Area residents heard gunshots and saw the man trapped under the front left tire.
Although she lives in Fort Riley, Kan., George, a Kaneohe native, was among the first to learn that Knowles was killed.
“He was almost home,” she said, adding they lived in an apartment just two blocks from the scene. “My children were waiting for him to come home. He went to get something for them to eat.”
17 responses to “Police arrest suspect in Kalihi murder case”
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to be Politically correct, I’m not prejudging the arrestee. I think I saw this guy driving around at the shopping center parking lot years ago. Seemed way of out place as I never saw these types of gold wearing pimps cruising in a restored looking old Cadillac convertible.
I don’t think the article says whether the picture is the victim or the suspect.
I’m just commenting on the picture. My condolences goes out to the victims family and friends.
Cricket_Amos, that’s a picture of the victim.
The photo has the victim’s name beneath it. I’m pretty sure it’s a picture of the victim.
I don’t know much about what happened but it is tragic. It shows how dangerous it is to have guns floating around. Personal disputes can flare up into deadly violence.
no kidding. not only guns but bombs, etc. It is not the weapon of choice but of the individuals ideology. So tell me, should we ban or curb automobiles? A drunk killed our family member just a couple of months ago! Do we go after the automobile or the drunk?
Sorry for your loss Pocho, maybe ban alcohol
Sorry for your loss Pocho. Please remember that it’s illegal for civilians to make, possess or set off bombs.
Does any ban or laws stop the use of bombs? The last I hear perpetrators still use em.
That’s the victim you portagee
SA journalists are much too lazy to obtain an arrest mug shot these days.
HNN reporting that the suspect’s name is Branson Reis. Arrest records are public, why would the SA leave out suspect’s name? And not clearly caption the photo?
Portagee, thas’ why.
Geeez, why are you readers gonna realize the Media protects perpetrators. The Media has no heart for the victims giving out names but when it comes to perpetrators the hold back the names and when they do give out the perpetrators names along with it comes Moms’s stories that her son/daughter would never hurt an ant! That he/she is a good kid, never did anything wrong
Was premeditated attempted murder. Victim was trying to get away. Check immigration status and deport after trial.
My deepest ALOHA to his ohana.