Breaking News: Fatal Shooting on Molokai UPDATED
Last updated at 3 p.m. March 21, 2013
Last night a 24-year-old female was fatally shot at Kawela Barns Apartments. The 911 call was reported at 9:59 p.m. Police reported the victim, who has been identified as Malia Kahalewai, as having a single gunshot wound in the chest. She was transported to Molokai General Hospital in critical condition, according to a police press release. She passed away as a result of her injuries.
Police have identified the suspect as 33-year-old Marlin L. Lavoie, who fled the scene last night in a small Honda, compact vehicle heading east on Kamehameha V Highway. Police later located the vehicle near his residence in Honouliwai, and the suspect surrendered himself to police custody this morning at 7:51 a.m. without incident. Lavoie was placed under arrest for murder in the second degree and was subsequently transported to the Molokai Police Station for processing. As of 2:40 p.m. today, Lavoie has not been formally charged as this investigation is actively ongoing, according to police.
An autopsy is pending. The relationship between Lavoie and Kahalewai was boyfriend-girlfriend. They also had children in common.
Check themolokaidispatch.com for updates as they become available.
10 Comments
Sorry to read the story, unfortunate, but, Molokai has the same social problems of any other island or city in the U.S.
Our prayers go out to the couple’s keiki and their families. Domestic violence is sadly another result of the 200+ years of neglect, oppression and attempted suppression of our cultural ways that used to keep these abuses under check. It’s also rampant over here on the mainland in our American Indian communities. Sad, just sad. All of us indigenous people need to rise up against the scourge of domestic violence.
Really? Were going to blame this on “200 years of oppression” ? Sounds like an anger management issue
Kind of no place to run when you live on an island. Molokai can be either paradise or hell. Drugs are ruining the future.
My heart goes out to the family.
Very sad for a small community. Unfortunately in the “American” justice system. there is not the deterrence incentive to not commit violent emotionally destructive crimes. A return to the biblical death penalty for murder, rape, adultery, and sexual deviations would significantly “put the evil away from our communities”. Maybe that would be possible on a small island to amend the local laws, as cities and states are doing in regards to marriage laws, abortion, etc. There is hope, maybe it is time for the people of biblical faith to return to the creator’s instructions….and put it to a vote of the people.
This is such a tragedy. Though like I stated in the other article in regards to this, it could have been prevented. As I read in the Maui news four days before the shooting Lavoie had found Kahalewai with a friend parked in a church parking lot in Kalamaula. Where he opened her driver door & hit her, then took the keys from the ignition. He was later arrested that same day for abuse of family household member. Now with this happening, why didn’t the friend, Kahalewai was with suggest or take Kahalewai to the Womens shelter? Was this not a red flag to her friend? It should have been. Maybe her friend is also in an abusive/dysfunctional relationship & is use to to this kind of act. Who knows, right?. Well it could have been prevented. No one knows when someone will come out & randomly? shoot/kill someone, however there are signs that lead up to it. I suggest Kahalewais friend(s) get some help themselves because to not know there were obvious red flags means you are blinded to the importance of life and domestic violence. Who ever chooses to be upset with this post, I am expressing my look on it.
It seems that people are not talking about the “Real” problem here and that is the Meth abuse that is going on. Everyone that knew this guy, knew he was a “meth head” Meth causes people to commit violent acts, when they are out of the the drug meth and have been up for days on end. This guy had just been arrested for domestic violence 4 days before and then released. When someone doesn’t have the meth they become like animals, their thinking becomes violent and they strike out at whomever they blame for their situation. There needs to be a proactive force on the Island to help those addicted to this EVIL mind/mood altering drug. And, if someone already has mental illness, and then use Meth…it becomes a recipe for disaster. We must all educate ourselves on this drug, as its not going anywhere soon. We MUST educate our people and children that ONE usage of Meth can destroy One’s mind. As a drug and alcohol counselor on the mainland, I can guarantee this will not be the last tragedy on this small island, if this is not met ‘head on’ and dealt with on a proactive way. We must deal with these people as humans such as we all are, not to be shunned, but guided through the process of getting healthy, both mentally and physically.
My heart goes out to this young girl, just starting her life. And perhaps this family they can be the voice for change on the island. The island that knows how to deal with the darkness that surrounds One that has been driven from the Light. These things cannot be shoved under the proverbial “rug”. There is too much at stake.
Love and Peace to All.
I hope the family can be voice for a change, though Kahalewais mother & father is an alcoholic & whoever knows them knows this is true. I also hope the children will be placed with a loving, caring & responsible family. To be honest those grandparents are not fit to raise these kids. For the meth use its so unfortunate that this could be part of the issues in this situation, though kahalewais friends are no saints either and are/is a bad influence, I wonder how they still have their own children while battling their own addictions.
please if you going accuse people of things let them know who the accuser is.no fake names.mahalo an aloha
It seems that people are not talking about the “Real” problem here and that is the Meth abuse that is going on. Everyone that knew this guy, knew he was a “meth head” Meth causes people to commit violent acts, when they are out of the the drug meth and have been up for days on end. This guy had just been arrested for domestic violence 4 days before and then released. When someone doesn’t have the meth they become like animals, their thinking becomes violent and they strike out at whomever they blame for their situation. There needs to be a proactive force on the Island to help those addicted to this EVIL mind/mood altering drug. And, if someone already has mental illness, and then use Meth…it becomes a recipe for disaster. We must all educate ourselves on this drug, as its not going anywhere soon. We MUST educate our people and children that ONE usage of Meth can destroy One’s mind. As a drug and alcohol counselor on the mainland, I can guarantee this will not be the last tragedy on this small island, if this is not met ‘head on’ and dealt with on a proactive way. We must deal with these people as humans such as we all are, not to be shunned, but guided through the process of getting healthy, both mentally and physically.
My heart goes out to this young girl, just starting her life. And perhaps this family can be the voice for change on the island. The island that knows how to deal with the darkness that surrounds One that has been driven from the Light. These things cannot be shoved under the proverbial “rug”. There is too much at stake.
Love and Peace to All.