MEDIA RELEASE

Scottie I.K. Yanagawa

An autopsy was conducted Thursday (February 11) on the 29-year-old man who died in an officer involved shooting Tuesday (February 9) in Hilo.

The medical examiner determined that Scottie I.K. Yanagawa of Hilo died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

After conferring with prosecutors, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section charged 30-year-old Kaiini Febo-Santiago of Pāhoa at 10:35 p.m. Thursday with second-degree hindering prosecution. Her bail was set at $500, and she was released after posting bail.

Kaiini Febo-Santiago

At approximately 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, police initiated a traffic stop on a Toyota mini-van in a parking lot of a shopping center on the 300 block of East Makaʻala Street. The van was known to be operated by Yanagawa, who was wanted for his involvement in a shooting in the Honoliʻi area on January 31 and for escaping from the Hale Nani correctional facility on November 19.

Yanagawa was known to be armed and dangerous.

Yanagawa and Febo-Santiago, who was driving the van, were commanded to exit the vehicle. While exiting the passenger side of the vehicle, Yanagawa discharged a round from a handgun. In response, officers discharged their firearms, fatally injuring him.

Santiago was uninjured and arrested at the scene for having aiding a wanted fugitive.