Kauaʻi police thank community, partner agencies for support during manhunt for murder suspect

Kauaʻi Police Department extends its sincere mahalo to the community and its partner agencies for the support they provided during the investigation and 2-day manhunt for murder suspect William “Billy” Sinclair.

Police thank the public for its patience, cooperation and vigilance while law enforcement searched for the 51-year-old Kīlauea man, who was arrested Monday, June 8, on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder.

Sinclair is connected with a suspicious early Saturday morning, June 6, death — determined to be homicide — of a 37-year-old man in Hanalei. They also connected him to a shooting incident later that morning during which a person received non-life threatening injuries when they were grazed by a bullet.

Kauaʻi Police Department also extends its appreciation to all partner agencies that assisted during the coordinated response, including Kauaʻi Fire Department, Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service and Office of the Kauaʻi County Prosecuting Attorney.

Special recognition is given to Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement for its support.

Personnel from the division provided critical assistance during the search and final phase of the investigation, including significant manpower and deployment of marine assets. They also played a crucial role in the safe apprehension of Sinclair.

“The collaboration between agencies and the support of the community were essential to bringing this incident to a peaceful resolution,” said a statement Tuesday evening, June 9, from Kauaʻi Police Department.