California Visitor Charged with Attempted Murder in Connection With Waikōloa Stabbing

A visitor from California faces an attempted murder charge, among others, in connection with a domestic incident in West Hawai‘i.

Hawai‘i Island police arrested 65-year-old Richard Lopez of San Pedro, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 1. After conferring with the county prosecutor’s office, detectives on Saturday, Sept. 3, charged Lopez with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and misdemeanor abuse of a family household member.

His bail was set at $300,000. Lopez remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance Tuesday, Sept. 6, in Kona District Court.

Responding at 9:17 p.m. Thursday to a reported stabbing in a guest room at a lodging establishment in the 69-200 block of Waikōloa Beach Drive in Waikōloa, South Kohala Patrol officers observed a female victim with numerous injuries, as well as Lopez who also sustained visible injuries. The victim and Lopez were transported to the North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea for medical treatment.

Later Thursday evening Lopez was arrested for attempted murder. Upon his release from the hospital early Friday morning, Sept. 2, officers transported him to the Kealakehe Police Station, where he remains as detectives with the Area II Juvenile Aid Section continue this investigation.

During the course of this investigation, police determined Lopez stabbed the victim multiple times, causing her to sustain life-threatening injuries. She remains hospitalized at this time.