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Kahaluu residents are voicing concerns following a drive-by shooting that left a bullet hole in the side of a car along Ahuimanu Road last week.
The car’s owner, a woman who would identify herself only as "Gina" due to fears of retaliation, said she and neighbors heard three to four gunshots at the intersection of Ahuimanu Road and Uakea Place about 5 a.m. Friday.
But it wasn’t until about 12 hours later that she realized her car had been damaged when she couldn’t lower her driver-side window.
Police are investigating the incident as a criminal property damage case, police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said.
"I’m still in shock," Gina said. "They invaded my property and jeopardized the safety of my family."
Gina said she cannot explain why someone would want to damage her car.
David Henkin, chairman of the Kahaluu Neighborhood Board, called the incident "disturbing" because the Ahuimanu area is normally considered a tranquil community.
"This is a very residential neighborhood," Henkin said.
Elwin Spray, a neighborhood board member who lives in the vicinity, said, "Anytime there’s a firearm discharged in a community setting, it’s a concern to that community."
Sen. Clayton Hee (D, Kaneohe-Kahuku) said he is bothered that police appeared to show only minimal interest in the case.
Hee, who held a press conference yesterday at the scene of the incident, said the bullet remained in the yellow Mazda Protege until Gina’s brother dislodged it yesterday.
"What troubles me is I don’t know what kind of investigation they’re doing," Hee said .
The bullet appeared to have come from a 9 mm handgun, he said.
Gina said she would have liked "more support" from the police, noting that a uniformed officer spent less than 90 minutes investigating the scene.
Yu said the case remains open and that there are no suspects.
