A volatile breakup on Maile Street has landed a 25-year-old Hilo man in serious legal trouble, with prosecutors saying he forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment on April 3 and attacked her new boyfriend. Prosecutors allege the suspect punched and choked the 25-year-old man, chased him into the complex’s parking lot while trying to stab him with a kitchen knife, and shoved the woman’s 62-year-old mother to the ground. Hilo District Court set bail at $1.06 million, and the suspect remains in custody.
How The Maile Street Clash Unfolded
Prosecutors say the suspect, identified in court filings as Gilberto Diaz Escobar, entered the Maile Street apartment without permission and tried to stab the 25-year-old male with a kitchen knife, according to reporting by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Bystanders intervened as Escobar chased the victim into the parking lot, and the victims were treated in the aftermath of the confrontation.
Arrest In Waikoloa And Prior Case
Police arrested Escobar at a Waikoloa residence on April 6. Prosecutors say he is being held at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center and that deputy prosecutor Kirsten Selvig has filed a written motion seeking to hold him without bail, per the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Court documents reviewed by prosecutors show Escobar is already facing an active case that includes felony domestic abuse by strangulation, felony domestic abuse in the presence of a minor and an auto-theft charge.
Text Threats And Possible Life Term
Court filings include a threatening text message prosecutors attribute to Escobar: "you do me dirty like this. imma do you dirty. hahaha. i liked when he was begging for his life." That message is cited in reporting by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The most serious charge in the current complaint, attempted second-degree murder, carries a potential sentence of life with the possibility of parole, according to the same reporting.
What’s Next In Court
At his initial appearance, Hilo District Judge Kanani Laubach maintained bail at $1.06 million and scheduled further proceedings. Prosecutors say pretrial motions are pending and they are seeking to keep Escobar detained before trial, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. A court order already bars Escobar from contacting or threatening his ex-girlfriend or their daughter as the case moves through the courts.
