Following a violent altercation in Kalapana, a man was booked and subsequently released pending an ongoing investigation after he allegedly stabbed two individuals late Sunday evening. KITV reports that the Hawaii Police Department received calls about a fight that had erupted amongst several people at the intersection of Mapunapuna Ave and Kalihikai St. Arriving at the scene, officers discovered a 20-year-old female victim with a stab wound to her leg and a 21-year-old male with multiple stab wounds to the abdomen.
The two victims were quickly transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center. According to the KITV article, the female's injuries were deemed non-life-threatening, while a man underwent surgery for serious injuries. The female was later released from the hospital, while the male continues his recovery.
As the investigation unfolded, personnel on the scene learned that the male suspect, alleged to have carried out the stabbings, had fled the area in a white sedan. The suspect, also 20 years old, later contacted authorities to report he had been attacked by multiple individuals and had sustained injuries himself. Police found the suspect in his damaged vehicle along Highway 130. The Hawaii Tribune-Herald detailed that he had multiple head and face injuries, including a skull fracture.
Following his treatment for the head trauma, the man was taken into custody and arrested for First Degree Assault on the following Monday morning. However, by Tuesday, the suspect was released from police custody, now waiting as the investigation presses on. Reflecting the gravity of the situation, the Hawaii Police have called for any witnesses to come forth, particularly seeking individuals who could have seen the incident unfold. Detective Sybastian Keltner has been assigned to the case, and people with information are encouraged to reach out to him at 808-961-2378.
