Man dead following assault in downtown Hilo

Police are investigating an assault and subsequent death of a 34-year-old man in downtown Hilo on Tuesday evening.

Shortly after 5:40 p.m., Hilo patrol officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive male fronting the Mo‘oheau Bus Terminal.

The man had reportedly been assaulted several minutes earlier.

Officers immediately began CPR on the man until medics arrived and subsequently transported the victim to Hilo Medical Center. He was later pronounced dead at 6:28 p.m.

Additional police responded to the scene and to HMC to continue the investigation.

Numerous witnesses were interviewed at the scene and reported that a short time earlier the victim was involved in an altercation with a 34-year-old female acquaintance near the homeless encampment along the fence line separating the Mo‘oheau parking lot and Bayfront Highway, police said.

Following the altercation, the victim was reportedly involved in a physical fight with several men.

After the fight, the victim reportedly retrieved some of his belongings from a tent and rode away on his skateboard to the front of the bus terminal, where he sat on a bench. Shortly afterwards, he was seen falling forward and hitting his head on the ground.

Police detectives are reviewing area video surveillance in hopes of identifying the men who were involved in the altercation with the victim.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning to determine the exact cause of death.

The victim’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information relative to this case to call Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2375 or email kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov or the police department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.