Kauai grand jury indicts Kīlauea man in fatal shooting case

A Kauai grand jury has escalated the case against William Robert Sinclair with a 28-count indictment that now formally includes second-degree murder, attempted murder and a long list of firearm-related charges. Prosecutors say the filing moves the case into Fifth Circuit Court and sharpens the allegations tied to the fatal shooting in Hanalei and the separate gunfire investigation in Kīlauea.

The indictment says Sinclair, 51, of Kīlauea, intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Sergio Reyes Hernandez on or about June 5, 2026. It also alleges that on or about June 6 he took a substantial step toward causing the death of another person. In addition, prosecutors allege he possessed 20 firearms, three suppressors and ammunition while barred from having them because of a prior felony conviction.

The County said Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like announced the charging decision and Chief Judge Michael Soong issued a no-bail warrant. Sinclair was served with that warrant, and arraignment was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. June 18 in courtroom 4 before Soong. Before the indictment, local reporting said Judge Matthew Bracken had kept Sinclair’s bail at $1.5 million.

The indictment grows out of a fast-moving sequence that began early June 6. Kauai police first responded at about 12:50 a.m. to a suspicious death in Hanalei that was later ruled a homicide. About four hours later, officers were called to gunshots in Kīlauea, where a resident was grazed by a bullet and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police later identified the homicide victim as Sergio Reyes Hernandez, 37, of Kīlauea, and local reporting identified the person hurt in the second shooting as Shey Ferguson.

During the search, police said Sinclair was considered armed and dangerous and was linked to a black low-rider Harley-Davidson with Hawaii license plate 596-XPC. Kīlauea Road was temporarily closed and nearby residents were evacuated as officers searched the area, then tracked him to the Kapaa side of the island. Sinclair was captured June 8 after officers found him near the Kapaa Public Library and he entered the ocean behind the library.

The court appointed defense attorney Keith Shigetomi after Sinclair said he could not afford counsel and the Department of Public Defender had a conflict. The indictment is an accusation only, and Sinclair remains presumed innocent unless the allegations are proved in court.