Three Kona teens arrested after gunshots; police seize guns, drugs, $43,000

Three 18-year-old Kona residents were arrested after reports of gunshots at about 1:36 p.m. on March 3 at a residence on the 75-5000 block of Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, near a school in Kailua-Kona, and officers seized two handguns with no serial numbers, one unregistered shotgun, suspected cocaine and $43,000 in cash, Hawaiʻi Police Department investigators said.

Hawaiʻi police identified the arrested men as Austin Erickson, Eli Madrigal and Joshua Ochoa, all 18 and from Kona. Officers detained the three at the scene after the initial call and booked them on suspicion of second-degree reckless endangerment; HPD said the preliminary investigation showed firearms had been discharged outside the residence, "possibly as part of target practice or similar recreational shooting."

During a search connected to the incident, HPD listed recovered evidence as "a container holding a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, three small zip packets containing a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, $43,000 in cash, numerous small plastic zip-packets, and a small digital scale," the department said. HPD also said both handguns had no serial numbers , commonly described as ghost guns , and that the shotgun was not registered to any of the three individuals.

Court and bail records released after the arrests show differing bail amounts and charges. Austin Erickson was charged and had bail set at $78,000; Kona District Court Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya granted Erickson supervised release at his initial appearance and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 20. Joshua Ochoa faces second-degree reckless endangerment and fourth-degree promoting a harmful drug, had bail set at $2,000, was granted supervised release and has a court hearing scheduled April 20. Eli Madrigal was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and had bail set at $1,000; HPD and court records show no further eCourt Kokua updates for Madrigal at this time.

HPD emphasized the immediate public-safety assessment for the neighborhood and nearby school. "At this time, police have determined there is no active threat to the school or surrounding community," the department said while confirming the investigation remains ongoing. Detectives continue evidence processing and have not announced lab confirmation of the substances seized.

Detective Aaron Tanaka of HPD Area II Criminal Investigation Section is the lead contact for tips and case information; the department lists Det. Tanaka at 808-326-4646 ext. 228 and aaron.tanaka@hawaiipolice.gov. The HPD non-emergency line is 808-935-3311 and the department's Area II office is listed at 349 Kapiʻolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720.

Investigators said they will forward case filings to the Kona District Court as they develop the probe ahead of the March 20 and April 20 hearings and will update charges if forensic results or further evidence warrant additional counts.