Kauai police arrest wanted Hanapepe man in hospital shooting probe

Kauai police say the search for a wanted Hanapēpē man ended quietly when Jason Bagain was arrested the evening of June 5, 2026, without incident. Investigators had been looking for the 45-year-old in connection with a criminal case that began after Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital reported that a patient had been treated for a gunshot wound on June 4.

The Kauai Police Department said Bagain is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 145 pounds, and has brown eyes and black hair. Officers had said he was known to frequent the Waimea and Hanapēpē areas, and they urged the public not to approach him if seen.

Police also moved quickly to calm concerns about any wider threat. KPD said it believed the shooting was an isolated incident and that the public was not in danger, a message that mattered for residents watching closely for any sign the case might point to a broader risk in South and West Kauai.

The arrest came after roughly a day of searching. Police were first alerted on June 4, when the hospital reported treating a gunshot-wound patient, and Bagain was in custody by the next evening.

With Bagain now apprehended, police said the immediate public-safety question has been answered, but the underlying investigation remains active. Detectives are still working through the circumstances that led to the hospital shooting report and the role Bagain is alleged to have played.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Detective Caires at (808) 241-1693. Anonymous tips can also be sent through Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i by phone, website or the P3 Tips mobile app, and the organization offers cash rewards of up to $2,000 for anonymous information that leads to an arrest. On June 6, police thanked the public for its help and cooperation as the case moved forward.