Man who shot neighbor driving front loader into Waianae home not charged

WAIANAE, Hawaii (KHON2) — Prosecutors will not charge the Waianae man who shot and killed a neighbor who rammed into his home with a front loader before opening fire on Saturday, Aug. 31.

The incident happened during a party where family members were in the carport when the neighbor reportedly used the front loader to ram multiple cars into the home.

Prosecutors said it is a case of self-defense or defense of others. Keamo-Carnate said he had already gone to sleep after the family party, but was woken up shortly after 11 p.m.

“When I got up, we saw it. We started, just in disbelief and shock when he came in with their front end loader,” he said.

Police said Hiram Silva got off the front loader and killed three women with an unregistered firearm before Rishard Keamo-Carnate stopped him with his registered handgun.

“My family, my kid were in danger,” he said.

Police records show Silva also tried to shoot four 55-gallon drums that held an unknown fuel. Keamo-Carnate’s lawyer said verbal threats from Silva went back decades.

“And the police kept saying, you know, ‘We can’t arrest him because he’s got gates.’ I never heard of police needing permission to go in to arrest someone,” Michael Green said. “He wanted to blow up the house and burn people down besides who he shot. And he was violating laws with that dome, with drinking and whatever else he was doing in there for years.”

Police Chief Joe Logan said on Tuesday, Sept. 3 that previous cases were under review to see why officers were sent to Silva’s home before. No update was given on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Rishard was initially taken into custody for second-degree murder after the incident and told KHON2 that the arresting officer recognized him from previous visits over Silva’s threats.

“‘I remember you, braddah, I sorry we couldn’t, couldn’t help you and I hope all goes well for you,” he said. “Yeah, he was praising me.”

“Being locked up, I was scared. The relief this morning was a blessing. I was crying and happy at the same time, but didn’t know how to show it.”

Rishard Keamo-Carnate

Prosecutors announced their decision to not pursue the case against Keamo-Carnate on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

He still lives in the home and said the front loader was recently removed.

“Hopefully we can start rebuilding on Monday. And we’re just taking it day by day,” he said.

Cherell Keamo, Courtney Raymond-Arakaki and Jessyca Amasiu all died from their injuries.

“In Hawaii, a person is allowed to use proportional amounts of force to defend themselves,” said defense attorney Victor Bakke shortly after the incident.

Green said a civil lawsuit to go after the estate of Silva is in the works.