Kailua-Kona Man Faces Murder Charges

Hawaiʻi Island police have charged a Kailua-Kona man with murder in connection with a body found last week off Hawaiʻi Belt Road.

Shortly before noon Saturday, Oct. 22, Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of criminal property damage in progress in the Oʻoma subdivision in Kailua-Kona.

Officers located 29-year-old Gafatasi Jorden Kaipo Napoleon of Kailua-Kona, who was also wanted on suspicion of murder for the shooting death of 36-year-old Alanaokala Solomon Covington of Kailua-Kona.

Napoleon was arrested and taken to the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

At 9:55 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, he was charged with second-degree murder, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, promoting a dangerous drug and criminal property damage.

His bail was set at $271,000. He remained at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday, Oct. 24.

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

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

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