MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police have opened a murder investigation following the death of a man who was found injured in a Hilo parking lot.

At 3:55 p.m. Tuesday (January 20), South Hilo Patrol officers and Hawaiʻi Fire Department medics responded to a call of a stabbing victim in a drug store parking lot on the 500 block of Kīlauea Avenue. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds and was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he died at 7:18 p.m.

Police learned that the victim had been confronted by two men while in the grassy area between a business off KÄ«lauea Avenue and the mauka soccer fields off Kamehameha Avenue. After being stabbed, the victim managed to walk to the parking lot where he was found.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section and evidence specialists responded to the scene to further the investigation into this incident, which is classified as a second-degree murder.

Police have tentatively identified the victim, believed to be a 43-year-old man with no permanent address. Police are withholding his name pending positive ID and notification of his next of kin.

Detectives are seeking witnesses who may have seen two men running in the north, or Hāmākua, direction along Kīlauea Avenue between Hualalai Street and the downtown area between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. One was described as Caucasian, about 6-feet tall, about 160 pounds with short blond hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing green knee-length shorts and a white T-shirt. The other was described only as a local male with a fair complexion wearing a white tank top and prescription glasses. Both men are wanted for questioning in connection with this investigation.

No arrests have been made. Detectives continue to canvass the surrounding businesses for witnesses or video surveillance.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday to determine the exact cause of death.

Police and ask that anyone who may have witnessed the incident call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Clarence Davies at 961-2384 or cdavies@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Norbert Serrao Jr. at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.