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Posted: Monday, January 14th, 2013 9:30 AM HST

Police shooting suspect pleads not guilty

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

A preliminary hearing will be held January 31, for a 31-year old Hilo man accused of shooting and wounding two police officers. Keaka K. Martin made his initial court appearance in Hilo District Court Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of first degree attempted murder, second degree reckless endangering and various firearms offenses. The defendant, who appeared in a wheelchair is presently recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen that occurred as a law enforcement team was about to take him into custody. He’s accused of shooting Hilo Patrol Officers Garrett Hatada and Joshua Gouveia shortly before 9:00 p.m. on January 2 in the parking lot of the former Green Onion cocktail lounge on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo.