Yesterday, Chris Santos received a 20-year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of Kith Silva-Lacro, a decision that concluded a case marked by a fervent manhunt and widespread community unrest. The sentencing took place after Santos was convicted of manslaughter in a plea agreement, as reported by Hawaii News Now.
Santos' capture followed a ten-day search by local police, FBI agents, and deputy U.S. Marshals, which ended after an officer-involved shooting near Kekaha Beach Park. Arrested in a stolen Jeep, he was in possession of two rifles, one, which led to his being shot when he attempted to drive toward officers. The conviction saw Santos also plead guilty to attempted first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and two firearms charges. The terms are to be served concurrently with the manslaughter sentence.
At the hearing, the trauma and anguish of the victim's family were palpable as they shared their grief. "Nothing I say will bring my son back. But what he did was wrong, and he showed no remorse whatsoever in that courtroom today," Silva-Lacro’s mother, Paula Bacio, told KITV. Silva-Lacro's sister, Phrystal Bacio, echoed this sentiment in a statement to Hawaii News Now, saying, "There’s nothing that would ever be enough for his sentencing because it will never bring my brother back."
Kauai County Prosecutor Rebecca Like, in justifying the plea deal, emphasized that the decision was reached after considerable discussion with the victims' family and an assessment of the strength of the evidence. "Following extensive analysis, multiple conversations with those most affected by this incident, and discussion with the defendant’s experienced counsel, we concluded that the plea agreement reached with the defendant was appropriate and provided a measure of closure to the survivors and loved ones," like stated in an email to Hawaii News Now. However, former deputy prosecutor and defense attorney Megan Kau hinted at underlying issues affecting the case's resolution, speculating on potential evidence or witness challenges leading to the plea deal.
Despite the closure the sentencing may bring, there remains a sense of injustice for those involved in aiding Santos's evasion, with Phrystal Bacio expressing dissatisfaction to Hawaii News Now: "I feel that everybody that was involved should have some kind of sentence to face and some kind of justice, but I don’t know," and "I guess they all have the criminal lifestyle -- and no one will talk."
