Murder suspect arrested

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Hawaii Island police arrested a Kailua-Kona man at noon Saturday in connection with a body that was found off Hawaii Belt Road.

Hawaii Island police arrested a Kailua-Kona man at noon Saturday in connection with a body that was found off Hawaii Belt Road.

Gafatasi Jorden Kaipo Napoleon, 29, was arrested in Kailua-Kona and taken to the Kona police cellblock, where he is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

On Oct. 16, 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 the 27-mile marker where police recovered the body of 36-year-old Alanaokala Solomon Covington of Kailua-Kona. An autopsy conducted Friday determined Covington died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police ask anyone with any information about the case to call the police department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Jerome Manuel at 326-4646, extension 262, or jerome.manuel@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward.