Hawaii Island police are looking for three unknown persons in connection with an armed robbery in Puna Monday followed by the discharge of a firearm about three hours later.
Hawaii Island police are looking for three unknown persons in connection with an armed robbery in Puna Monday followed by the discharge of a firearm about three hours later.
In response to a 4:55 p.m. call Monday, Puna patrol officers met with a 29-year-old Mountain View man, who reported that he had just exited his driveway in a pickup truck and pulled to the side of the road when a small sedan pulled up behind him. Three suspects exited the sedan with their faces obscured and ordered the victim to surrender his truck at gunpoint. The suspects then fled the area in both vehicles.
Just after 8 p.m., the truck was recovered at the intersection of Pohaku Drive and 37th Avenue in the Orchidland subdivision. Police learned that an acquaintance of the victim had located the truck in the parking lot of a local business and followed it into Orchidland. Once confronted, the driver of the stolen truck fired at least one shot from a firearm, abandoned the truck and fled the area on foot.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section responded to the scene and are continuing the investigation.
Police ask anyone with information about either incident to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number 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.
Police caution the public not to approach the suspects.