A late-night break-in at a Nokomis gated community ended with gunfire through a sliding glass door and two Hawaii-born men in the Sarasota County Jail, according to deputies. Investigators say an aviation unit watched a suspect scale a community wall, run to a waiting SUV and jump in before patrol units stopped the vehicle. Both men have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bond while the case moves forward.
As reported by the Sarasota News Leader, the incident unfolded around 11:48 p.m. on April 25 in the Talon Preserve community on Palmer Ranch in Nokomis. The homeowner showed deputies cuts from broken storm glass and fragments from rounds that passed through the rear slider. After reviewing probable-cause affidavits, the News Leader reported that deputies later recovered a Glock 9mm along the roadside, near where they had stopped a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox with a Texas plate, and that the Sheriff’s Air 1 unit captured video of a subject fleeing over the community wall.
Hawaii News Now identified the suspects as 42-year-old Kalaninuiwahikamoku M. Kekawa and 36-year-old Mahikumakani D. Crabbe. According to that outlet, Kekawa is facing charges that include armed burglary, aggravated battery and firing a weapon into a dwelling, while Crabbe is charged with accessory after the fact. Court records show both men have entered not guilty pleas.
How deputies say the arrest unfolded
According to the probable-cause affidavits reviewed by the Sarasota News Leader, the Sheriff’s Air 1 unit tracked a man leaving the residence, climbing the Talon Preserve security wall and getting into the waiting Equinox. The SUV then headed north on State Road 681 toward I-75, where deputies moved in and stopped the vehicle. Officials identified Crabbe as the driver and Kekawa as the front-seat passenger. Investigators say the Glock 9mm was found along the roadside close to where the vehicle was pulled over.
What the suspects told investigators
Court documents cited by Hawaii News Now state that Kekawa told detectives he had come to the area for work but decided to commit a burglary to “get extra money to provide for his family.” He reportedly said he fired his weapon when the homeowner banged on the sliding glass door. Crabbe initially declined to talk, but later made statements that investigators say confirmed his knowledge of the incident. County booking logs list both men as being held without bond. The Suncoast News & Scoop also lists the two in Sarasota County arrest reports.
Legal note
Under Florida law, aggravated battery is defined in Florida Statutes §784.045, and shooting into or throwing a missile into a dwelling is covered by Florida Statutes §790.19. Both offenses are felonies that can carry significant prison time if a person is convicted. Prosecutors may adjust the charges as they file formal information, and defense attorneys will have opportunities to challenge the allegations in court.
Anyone with information about the April incident is asked to contact the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office through its public tips and records channels at the Sheriff’s Office website. Booking records and arrest reports indicate both men remain in custody awaiting future court dates, and investigators say they are open to additional tips that could assist the case.
