Police ID deceased assault victim in downtown Hilo incident

Police have identified the victim who died last week following an incident at the Mo‘oheau Bus Terminal in downtown Hilo as 34-year-old Jimmy Kaneala Clifford Carmichael of Hilo.

An autopsy was performed Friday, and the forensic pathologist ruled that Carmichael had no serious skull or brain injuries as a result of the assault, but there was evidence of an “acute cardiac event” prior to his death, police said.

The cause and manner of death is pending toxicology tests.

The death of Carmichael stems from an incident reported on Tuesday evening shortly after 5:40 p.m., when officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive male fronting the bus terminal. The man had reportedly been assaulted several minutes earlier.

Responding officers immediately began CPR on Carmichael until medics arrived and took over and transported him via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center, where he pronounced dead at 6:28 p.m.

Numerous witnesses were interviewed at the scene and reported that a short time earlier, Carmichael was involved in an altercation with a 34-year-old female acquaintance near the homeless encampment along the fence line separating the Mo‘oheau parking lot and Bayfront Highway.

Following the altercation, Carmichael was reportedly involved in a physical fight with several men.

Carmichael then reportedly retrieved some of his belongings from a tent and rode away on his skateboard toward the front of the bus terminal, where he sat on a bench. Shortly afterwards, he was seen falling forward and hitting his head on the ground.

Detectives reviewed area video surveillance and are working on interviewing individuals who were involved in the altercation. No arrests have been made.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who has information relative to this case to call Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2375 or email kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov, or the police department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.