O’ahu man charged with assault for New Year’s Day incident in Hilo

Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged K-One Howard, of Eva Beach, O’ahu, with assault following a New Year’s Day incident in Hilo.
 
On Jan. 1, shortly after 2:30 p.m., South Hilo patrol officers responded to the area of Lokahi Street in Hilo after receiving numerous reports of an unconscious male on the ground who had been assaulted.

The 21-year-old victim was transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room in critical condition.
 
Responding officers quickly identified Howard as the suspect. He was located nearby at his mother-in-law’s apartment on Lokahi Circle and arrested without incident.
 
Howard, the victim and several other men were reportedly drinking at Lokahi Park prior to the assault. During that time several of the men had a verbal altercation. Witnesses stated that as the victim left, Howard followed him and then assaulted him by punching and kicking him numerous times. 
 
Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives responded to the scene.
 
A search warrant was later executed on the apartment where Howard was arrested, and detectives recovered the clothing Howard was wearing during the assault.  
 
On Jan. 2, detectives charged Howard with second-degree assault. His bail was set at $10,000. He remained in police custody pending his initial court appearance on Jan. 3 in Hilo District Court.
 
The victim was released from Hilo Medical Center on Jan. 4.  
 
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact Detective Paul Mangus of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2383 or email [email protected].