What started as a Tuesday night domestic call in South Kona escalated into a tense, hours-long standoff after a 43-year-old Captain Cook man allegedly armed himself, grabbed his 2-year-old daughter, and barricaded the pair inside a home. Police say the child was not physically hurt and was reunited with her mother after the man eventually walked out and was taken into custody without incident. Authorities later identified him as 43-year-old Earl-Lewis Camacho of Captain Cook.
Officers were dispatched around 8:35 p.m. to the 85-4000 block of Hawai‘i Belt Road following reports of a domestic dispute and learned that Camacho had allegedly assaulted his 25-year-old girlfriend while holding the toddler, according to the Hawai‘i Police Department. When officers arrived, they saw Camacho carrying the child along with what appeared to be a rifle, then barricading himself inside the residence while refusing police commands. Investigators say Camacho repeatedly shouted at officers to shoot him and was seen pointing what appeared to be three different-looking firearms at both responding officers and the child over the course of the standoff.
The Hawai‘i Police Department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team remained on scene for several hours before Camacho finally left the home shortly before midnight and surrendered, as reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Police say the 2-year-old was unharmed and was turned over to her mother after the ordeal. Camacho remains in custody while detectives continue to work the case.
Charges and investigation
According to the Hawai‘i Police Department, Camacho was arrested on multiple counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and abuse of a family or household member. He is being held while detectives with the Area II Juvenile Aid Section pursue the investigation under report number 26-042707. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Aaron Yamanaka at (808) 326-4646, ext. 304, or [email protected].
Authorities note that the peaceful surrender underscores how specialized response and negotiation teams can help de-escalate volatile domestic situations. The investigation remains active, and police have not released further details regarding motive or any prior criminal history.
