Kailua-Kona Suspect Held Pending Murder Charges

Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested a Kailua-Kona man in connection with a body found late Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 18, off Hawaiʻi Belt Road.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, at noon, Kona Patrol officers arrested 29-year-old Gafatasi Jorden Kaipo Napoleon in Kailua-Kona.

He was taken to the Kona police cellblock, where he is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

On Sunday, Oct. 16, police received an anonymous tip about a possible murder in Kailua-Kona.

An investigation led to the discovery of a burial site late Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 18, off Hawaiʻi Belt Road (Highway 190) north of the 27-mile marker.

Police secured the area overnight and on Wednesday morning, Oct. 19, recovered the body of 36-year-old Alanaokala Solomon Covington of Kailua-Kona. An autopsy conducted Friday (October 21) determined that Covington died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

An autopsy conducted Friday, Oct. 21, determined that Covington died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

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.