MPD launches investigation into fatal “shooting incident”

WAIKAPU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Lahaina man was found dead in a vehicle in Waikapu shortly after midnight Monday.

Maui Police identified the victim as 42-year-old Shawn Lewis.

Investigators say he was the only one in the vehicle, which was found near the intersection of Honoapiilani Highway and Waiolu Place.

The MPD said the sequence of events leading to Lewis’ death was still under investigation, but classified the case as a “shooting.”

Local residents told us they heard speeding cars and then a loud bang.

Witnesses who wished to remain anonymous said they saw someone leaving the scene.

“I heard two cars. Two cars. And someone hit the sign,” said a witness. “I just watched him in the van, he was cursing. The guy cursed… the F-word… and drove away.”

“I just saw a car stopped at the traffic light. It stopped and then turned onto East Waiko Road. I went into my father’s room, looked out the window and saw the red van,” said another witness.

The witness said they tried to save the victim but failed.

“We went outside and checked to see if the guy was OK. He was already bleeding. He was covered in blood all over,” she said. “One of the cops came up to us and asked if we heard a gunshot… he said, ‘What you thought was a cut on his neck is actually a gunshot wound.’ And we just looked at each other and wondered what the hell. [expletive].”

Both witnesses say they did not feel safe.

“It’s scary. On Oahu you hear about it all the time, but on Maui you never hear about it, let alone Waikapu. You never hear about it, it’s such a small town,” said one witness.

“They have to tell us because we live here,” said the other witness. “We are afraid to go out.”

The cause of death is pending the results of the autopsy.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Criminal Investigation at 808-244-6425 and reference report number 24-026966.

MPD says further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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