KALIHI, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
An attempted murder suspect trying to make a getaway tries to break into a Kalihi apartment but the man on the other side of the door wasn't having it and it turned into a wild scene.
The shooting happened at this Nuuanu Gardens Apartment complex on Nuuanu Avenue late Thursday night. Police say the victim and three men were fighting when shots were fired.
While getting away one suspect made it to an apartment on Robello Lane in Kalihi and picked the wrong door. Michael Napeahi, 35, was allegedly trying to kick down the door using a rock and his foot. He was getting close to breaking through when the owner inside, known as BG opened the door armed with his shotgun. He says Napeahi charged in anyway and threatened to kill BG and his girlfriend yet he didn't shoot. Instead they got into an intense fist fight. Blood can be seen splattered on the door, the floor and the American flag hanging on the wall.
"I think it's a classic case of an everyday citizen defending himself and his family. I think he used great constraint that he didn't fire the firearm," said Harvey Gerwig, Lessons In Firearms Education (LIFE) and Hawaii Rifle Association President.
Gerwig teaches firearm safety. He tells students not to get into a fist fight because if you lose the gun can go into the wrong hands. He also encourages gun owners to know the law. He believes BG would have had the right to fire since the assailant came inside and threatened them. However gun owners also need to know there is a difference between protecting people versus property.
"So if the threat was to you, your family, your innocent others than you have a right to defend yourself. If you are defending property, meaning he's running out the door with your TV you cannot shoot him," said Gerwig.
In this case BG got the better hand and held the Napeahi at gunpoint until police arrived.
The other two suspects, David Makilan, 30, and Brandon Jamile, 26, were also caught nearby.
By the way BG says his shotgun is licensed and registered with the city.
Copyright 2012 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
