Barabbas Dietrich, a 37-year-old Native Hawaiian man, was driving his Nissan Pathfinder through Mililani, Hawaii, just after midnight on December 14, 2023. A female passenger was with him when, according to police, a silver Ford Explorer that had been following them suddenly sped up, cut in front of their vehicle, and blocked both lanes of Kamehameha Highway, forcing Dietrich to an abrupt stop.
Two men, both armed with handguns, allegedly got out of the Explorer and approached.
As Dietrich tried to drive away from the blockade, one of the men opened fire, shooting several rounds into the Pathfinder. A single bullet struck Dietrich in the head. First responders found him in the driver’s seat near the intersection with Kipapa Street, his vehicle showing bullet holes in the windshield and passenger-side door. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and was pronounced brain dead the next day. As a designated organ donor, he remained on life support until his organs were harvested, and he died on December 17. His female passenger was not physically injured.
Investigators quickly determined the shooting was not a random act and that the suspects knew the victim. Using digital evidence, surveillance footage, and witness interviews, police identified two men as suspects. On December 19, officers arrested 27-year-old Michael K. Caspino in Makaha and 34-year-old Clinton B. Kaaialii in Wahiawa. Both were arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.
The case took a significant turn when an Oahu grand jury returned a 13-count indictment against not only Caspino and Kaaialii, but also a third individual. Prosecutors identified the third suspect as Sabrecia Mililani Lee Hao, 28, the woman who had been Dietrich’s passenger. The indictment alleged that Hao was an accomplice who helped lead Dietrich into an ambush. Caspino was charged with second-degree murder as the alleged shooter, along with robbery and multiple firearms offenses. Hao was also charged with second-degree murder and robbery, while Kaaialii was charged with first-degree robbery and firearms counts.
In early January 2024, Michael Caspino, Clinton Kaaialii, and Sabrecia Hao all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. A judge denied a motion to lower Caspino's $1 million bail. As of January 2024, the case against all three defendants was pending trial.
