Police have initiated a homicide investigation in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision in Puna.
Shortly before 10 a.m. today, Puna patrol officers responded to a residence on Kawakawa Street for a report of an elderly man seated in a wheelchair and bleeding from his neck.
Responding officers located the victim seated in a walker-seat in his driveway. He was found unconscious and was bleeding from a laceration-type injury to his neck.
Police and rescue personnel immediately attempted life-saving measures. The victim, later identified as 87-year-old Charles Hacker of Pahoa, was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Police detectives responded to the scene and are continuing this investigation, which is classified as a second-degree murder.
While at the scene investigating, police received information identifying a suspect. Shortly thereafter, police took a 33-year-old male neighbor of the victim into custody on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Police remain in the area today pending execution of a search warrant at the victim’s residence.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday to determine the exact cause of death.
Police ask for anyone with information about this incident, or who may have been in the area of Kawakawa Street on Wednesday morning between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., to contact Detective Blaine Morishita of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385 or email him at Blaine.Morishita@hawaiicounty.gov.
They can also email Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at Rio.Amon-Wilkins@hawaiicounty,gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide CrimeStoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00.