UPDATE: Victim of fatal Ka‘ū dog attack identified

Update on Aug. 2 at 11:01 a.m.: The Hawai‘i Police Department has identified the victim of a fatal dog attack that occurred on Aug. 1 in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision as 71-year-old Robert Northrop of Ocean View.

At approximately 8:59 a.m., on Tuesday morning, Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to an animal complaint in the 92-2000 block of Outrigger Drive in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision in Ocean View.

Arriving officers observed a male victim, later identified as Northrop, lying unconscious in the roadway. Police located a witness who reported hearing a commotion outside his residence. When the witness went to check, he saw the victim being attacked in the roadway by four large dogs. The witness chased the dogs and called the police and paramedics to the scene.

Northrop was treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel, however succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital.

“There is currently no evidence that the victim provoked this horrific attack,” said Hawai’i Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz. “This incident is a senseless tragedy that could have been avoided.”

The dogs’ owners were not home at the time of the attack; however, they have been identified and contacted by police. Investigators are looking into claims that the dogs had previously been reported as stray animals. In the meantime, the owners have surrendered all four dogs and a litter of 10 puppies to the Hawai’i County Animal Control and Protection Agency.

Police are investigating this incident as a Negligent Failure to Control a Dangerous Dog case. HPD’s Area II Criminal Investigation Section is continuing their investigation as they await autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death.

The Hawai‘i Police Department encourages anyone with information relative to this investigation to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 326-4646 ext. 238, or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Original story on Aug. 1: An elderly man died following an attack by four large dogs in Kaʻū on the Big Island, according to Hawaiʻi Island police.

Just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to an animal complaint in the 92-2000 block of Outrigger Drive in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Upon their arrival, officers discovered an unconscious male victim, thought to be in his 70s, in the roadway. A witness in the area said he heard a commotion outside his residence and when he want to check, he saw the victim being attacked in the roadway by four large dogs.

The witness chased the dogs away and called the police and paramedics.

The victim was treated by emergency medical personnel at the scene and died from his injuries while being transported to Kona Community Hospital. He was taken to Ka‘ū Hospital for official pronouncement of death. His identity is being withheld until positive identification is made and next of kin is contacted.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The dogs’ owners were not home at the time of the attack; however, they have were identified and contacted by police. Investigators are looking into claims that the dogs previously were reported as strays. In the meantime, the owners have surrendered all four dogs and a litter of 10 puppies to the Hawai‘i County Animal Control and Protection Agency.

“There is currently no evidence that the victim provoked this horrific attack,” said Hawai‘i Police Department Chief Ben Moszkowicz. “This incident is a senseless tragedy that could have been avoided.”

The incident is being investigated as a negligent failure to control a dangerous dog case. Hawai‘i County code revised in 2022, making it a felony crime if someone fails to take reasonable measures to prevent an unprovoked dog attack that results in serious bodily injury or death.

Investigators have classified this case as a Class B felony, which is punishable by up to a $25,000 fine, 10 years in prison, restitution and/or the humane destruction of the dogs involved.

Hawai‘i County Mayor Mitch Roth offered his condolences to the victim’s ʻohana and friends.

“We offer our heartfelt thoughts to the victim’s family,” Roth said in a statement. “Regardless of the circumstances, this is a tragedy for our island community.”

The Hawai‘i Police Department is asking anyone with information about this incident to contact Area II Criminal Investigation Section Detective Donovan Kohara at 808-960-3118 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers 808-961-8300.