33-year-old man charged in Puna slaying

Police have charged 33-year-old Cameron Stewart with second-degree murder following the discovery of a deceased elderly man in Puna on Wednesday morning.

Stewart’s bail has been set at $1 million. He remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for July 5 in Hilo District Court.

The victim has been identified as 86-year-old Charles Hacker of Pahoa.

The charge against Stewart stems from an incident reported on Wednesday in the Hawaiian Shores subdivision.

Puna patrol officers responded to a residence on Kawakawa Street for a report of an elderly man seated in a wheelchair, bleeding from his neck. Responding officers located the victim seated in a walker-seat in his driveway. He was found unconscious and bleeding profusely from a laceration-type injury to his neck.

Police and rescue personnel immediately attempted life-saving measures. The victim was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

Area I Criminal Investigation Section personnel responded to the scene to assist in continuing this investigation.

While at the scene investigating, police received information identifying a suspect. Shortly thereafter, police took Stewart, a neighbor of the victim, into custody on suspicion of second-degree murder.

An autopsy was performed today, and the forensic pathologist ruled Hacker’s death a homicide.

During the course of this investigation detectives served a search warrant on Stewart’s residence, and recovered a recurve bow, various arrows, and other archery-related items.

Stewart and his family moved to the island from Arizona in the middle of last month.

Police are asking for anyone with information on this incident or who may have been in the area of Kawakawa Street on Wednesday morning between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., to contact Detective Blaine Morishita of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2385 or email him at Blaine.Morishita@hawaiicounty.gov.