A late-night confrontation outside a Kawaihae home has turned into a homicide investigation after a 40-year-old Kurtistown woman was found unconscious in her SUV and later died, according to Hawaiʻi Island police. The woman, identified as Leah Bannister, was taken to Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital in serious condition and died early Sunday morning. Detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigation Section have since reclassified the case as a homicide and are pressing forward with the probe.
Officers were called out at about 10:23 p.m. on a report of an unresponsive woman in a vehicle and later confirmed the victim as 40-year-old Leah Bannister, Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. According to the outlet, the situation began as a physical altercation at a residence on Kaloʻoloʻo Drive and then spilled outside the home.
What police say about the scene
Police say Bannister got into a Nissan SUV and drove it toward a minor female and an adult man, striking a parked vehicle that had two children inside. She then reversed the SUV before a 38-year-old man, identified as Heʻenalu Luta, walked up to the driver-side window and punched her, causing her to lose consciousness, according to Hawaii News Now. Hawaiʻi Fire Department medics transported Bannister to Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital in serious condition, the outlet reported. Luta was arrested at the scene on suspicion of first-degree assault, then later released pending further investigation after prosecutors were consulted.
Arrest, reclassification and next steps
After Bannister succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at 5:22 a.m., police reclassified the case as a homicide and said an autopsy will be scheduled to determine the exact cause of death, according to Big Island Now. Detectives have not released a mugshot of the man who was arrested and are continuing to interview people connected to the scene.
How the law could apply
Under Hawaii law, assault in the first degree applies when someone intentionally or knowingly causes serious bodily injury and is classified as a class B felony, one step below murder in severity under the state penal code. Those elements are spelled out in Hawaii Revised Statutes §707-710, as compiled by Justia; investigators are awaiting the autopsy results and reviewing the evidence before prosecutors decide whether to pursue homicide charges.
How to help
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Bradley Llanes of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at [email protected] or call the department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300, Big Island Now reported. Authorities are urging any witnesses who were in the area that night to come forward as detectives continue to build the case.
