Police are investigating an attempted murder-suicide that took place over the weekend in South Kohala.
According to a written statement, officers responded to a Kanehoa Street home in Waimea on a report of a possible murder-suicide. The incident was reported by a third-party on the mainland.
Upon arrival found the suspect, 63-year-old Thomas Lionel Woods, had barricaded himself and his 91-year-old father within the home. Woods was heard making verbal threats that he was going to kill his father, police said.
Officers were subsequently able to take Woods into custody without further incident. He was transported to the South Kohala Police Station.
Woods’ father was found, bound and with life-threatening injuries, in one of the bedrooms. Fire Rescue responded to the scene and took the elderly man to North Hawaii Community Hospital in critical condition.
According to police, Woods was found unresponsive at 12:50 a.m. Sunday within a temporary cell at the South Kohala station. Police personnel immediately began CPR and summoned Fire Rescue.
Woods was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital in critical condition and died Sunday night, police said.
Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest in connection with Woods death and an autopsy has been ordered.
As is standard practice in any police-involved death, the Kona Criminal Investigation Section will conduct an investigation into the death and the circumstances leading to it, and the Office of Professional Standards — the department’s Internal Affairs unit — will conduct an administrative investigation.
Any potential witnesses to the Kanehoa Street incident or those who may have other related information are asked to contact Officer Sheldon Nakamoto at (808) 326-4646, ext. 303 or sheldon.nakamoto@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
