Puna Man Charged With Assault After Machete Attack

A Puna man is facing assault charges after reportedly attacking a relative with a machete earlier this week.

Hawai‘i Police Department’s Puna patrol responded to the incident on Wednesday, May 25. At approximately 4:35 p.m., police received a report of an injured male at a business in Pāhoa.

When officers arrived on scene, they came into contact with a 62-year-old man who had multiple cuts to his arms, hands and head. The victim told police his son, identified as 30-year-old Jason Wayne Benkosky, attacked him with a machete and was at his residence in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision.

The injured male was transported to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, which were classified as serious bodily injury.

Officers responded to the residence where they located and arrested Benkosky without incident. He was held at the police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Juvenile Aid Section continued their investigation.

On May 27, the 30-year-old was charged with first- and second-degree assault. Bail was set at $35,000 and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, May 28.