Police Investigating Murder in Hawaiian Beaches; Suspect Taken Into Custody

Big Island police are investigating a case that has been classified as second-degree murder in a Puna subdivision.

According to a media release from the Hawai’i Police Department, Puna patrol officers responded shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, to a residence on Kawakawa Street in Hawaiian Beaches for a report of an elderly man seated in a wheelchair and bleeding from his neck.

Responding officers located the victim, later identified as 87-year-old Charles Hacker of Pāhoa, seated in a walker-seat in his driveway. He was found unconscious and bleeding from a laceration-type injury to his neck.

Police and rescue personnel immediately attempted life-saving measures. Hacker was transported to Hilo Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene and are continuing this investigation, which is classified as a second-degree murder. While at the scene investigating, police received information identifying a suspect. Shortly thereafter, police took a 33-year-old male neighbor of the victim into custody on suspicion of second-degree murder.

The media advisory Wednesday afternoon said police were still in the area at about 2:45 p.m., pending execution of a search warrant at Hacker’s residence.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, July 1, to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information about this incident or who might have been in the area of Kawakawa Street between 9 and 10 a.m. Wednesday is asked to contact Detective Blaine Morishita with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385 or vial email at Blaine.Morishita@hawaiicounty.gov. They can also email Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at Rio.Amon-Wilkins@hawaiicounty,gov.

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