Waianae Man Will Not Be Charged For Shooting Neighbor Who Killed Three
The Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office declined to file charges, citing self-defense and defense of others.
Rishard Keamo-Carnate will not be charged after he was arrested for killing a neighbor who stormed onto Keamo-Carnate’s property and shot five people, killing three.
Keamo-Carnate, 42, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder after killing his neighbor, Hiram Silva, 59, on Aug. 31. Prosecutors declined to charge him Wednesday, citing “issues related to self defense and defense of others,” according to a by the Honolulu Police Department.
At around 11:15 p.m. on Aug. 31, Silva drove a front-end loader into Keamo-Carnate’s home on Waianae Valley Road before opening fire on bystanders as they tried to flee. Three women, Cherell Keamo, 36; Courtney Raymond-Arakaki, 34; and Jessyca Amasiu, 29; were killed. Two others, a 31-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, were injured.
Keamo-Carnate was released from police custody at 7:55 p.m. on Sept. 1 pending investigation.
Some community members were outraged that Keamo-Carnate was arrested. The incident sparked discussions among lawmakers about strengthening Hawaii’s self-defense laws.
“Justice in this case clearly was that my client was within his rights to defend himself and others, and they’re not prosecuting him,” Keamo-Carnate’s attorney, Michael Green, said. “Thank God they did the right thing.”
Green said he is pursuing civil action against the city and Silva’s estate.
The shooting, which is one of the state’s deadliest in the last 20 years, has also left residents of West Oahu shaken as violent crime has increased in the area. The Honolulu Police Department has said it is sending dozens of additional reserve officers to patrol the Westside district and will meet every two weeks to discuss strategy.
