KAILUA-KONA — An autopsy conducted Friday on the body of a man who was found dead Wednesday alongside Highway 190 determined he was killed by a gunshot to the chest, and the search is on for a suspect.
On Sunday, police received an anonymous tip about a possible murder in Kailua-Kona. An investigation led to the discovery of a burial site late Tuesday afternoon off Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 190), north of mile marker 27. On Wednesday morning, police recovered a man’s body from the burial site. The body was identified as Alanaokala Solomon Covington, 36, of Kailua-Kona.
Police initiated a murder investigation in connection with the recovery of Covington’s body.
A suspect in the investigation, whom police did not identify, was known to frequent a homeless encampment near the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Henry Street, where officers conducted a search Friday, said Capt. Chad Basque, who leads the Hawaii Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigations Section.
Shortly after 9 a.m., Special Response Team officers, along with patrol officers, encircled the area and closed the mauka lane of Henry Street as they searched for the suspect, who is thought to be armed, Basque said.
The search was called off after determining the suspect was not in the area. Basque said the suspect is not considered a threat to public safety.
Attempts to contact Covington’s family were unsuccessful Friday. On Thursday, Malama Solomon, Covington’s aunt and a former state senator who represented North Hawaii, said the family was devastated by the news.
“He was a very strong person. He had his own manao, his own thoughts,” she said.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Jerome Manuel at 326-4646, ext. 262, or via email at jerome.manuel@hawaiicounty.gov.
People who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and might be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
West Hawaii Today sports editor J.R. De Groote contributed to this report.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
