Police have a 65-year-old Puna man in custody in connection with what authorities say was a homicide that took place Thursday evening in the driveway of the man’s home.
Isauro Garcia Madrigal has been booked on suspicion of second-degree murder, but hasn’t been charged pending further investigation by detectives.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a home on 37th Avenue in Orchidland Estates subdivision on a report of a verbal argument.
Madrigal, who was sitting outside the gate of his property when police arrived, told officers two men had entered his property and attacked him with a knife.
Officers found the deceased man’s body on Madrigal’s driveway, just inside the fence. According to police, the victim had what appeared to be blunt-force trauma injuries to his head and had been stabbed.
The victim was later transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. According to Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins, an autopsy has been performed and death was ruled a homicide.
Amon-Wilkins said police have tentatively identified the victim, but are not releasing his name until positive identification and notification of next of kin.
Police say the other alleged intruder left before officers arrived.
Madrigal was arrested at 8:55 p.m. He was booked at Pahoa police station and then taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of injuries received during the altercation, police said.
Just prior to this incident being reported to police, a neighbor reported hearing yelling coming from the area and saw two cars possibly leaving the area. Anyone who may have information about this case is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
See Saturday’s Tribune-Herald for a more detailed version of this story.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.