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Hawaii News

Friend charged in Botelho shooting

Dan Nakaso

Prosecutors charged a 26-year-old Kaneohe man yesterday in Sunday’s shooting death of former Castle High School quarterback Joel Botelho.

Makuola K. Collins is a longtime family acquaintance who lives near the Botelho family, police said in a court affidavit.

Collins was charged with murder, first- and second-degree attempted murder, use of a firearm during a crime and improper storing of a gun.

Prosecutors also charged Collins with third-degree promotion of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Botelho, who had turned 27 on New Year’s Day, and his younger brother, Leon "Bubba" Botelho, were drinking at Club Komo Mai in the Kaneohe Shopping Center on Kamehameha Highway at about 3 a.m. Sunday when the younger man got into an "altercation" with Collins, the police affidavit said.

Bubba Botelho and Collins have known each other for 10 years and live near each other on Waikalua Road in Kaneohe, the affidavit said.

The bar’s bouncers escorted the two men outside, and Collins drove off with his friends while the brothers drove to their parents’ home, the affidavit said.

As they headed down Waikalua Road, Bubba Botelho told detectives, he saw Collins and several men and women standing outside Collins’ home.

When the brothers got home, several cars pulled up, and four males began walking toward them, including Collins, the affidavit said.

One man swung at Bubba Botelho — and missed — just as he heard several gunshots and saw flashes from a gun that Collins was holding, the affidavit said.

Bubba Botelho turned and saw his brother lying on the ground, bleeding. Joel Botelho was pronounced dead at Castle Medical Center at 4:43 a.m.

 

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