Big Island man facing charges after threatening 2 people with a firearm, police say

A man from Hōlualoa is facing a myriad of offenses after reportedly threatening two people in separate incidents on Sunday with a firearm.

Isaiah Duarte, 23, was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree terroristic threatening and place to keep unloaded firearms other than pistols and revolvers. He is scheduled to appear in Kona District Court today.

The first incident occurred Sunday morning. At 11:42 a.m., Kona patrol officers with Hawai‘i Island police responded to a report of an unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in Hōlualoa. Upon arrival, officers contacted the vehicle’s owner and witnesses who reported that an unknown man, later identified as Duarte, was seen looking into a vehicle and opening and closing the driver’s door without permission.

When confronted by the vehicle’s owner, Duarte allegedly threatened him by saying that he would have a “shootout” with him.

Duarte then left the area in an older model Toyota pickup truck.

Later that day at 1:23 p.m., Kona patrol officers responded to a separate incident in Hōlualoa involving a person being threatened with a firearm. Officers contacted a second victim who reported that Duarte was observed driving a Toyota pickup truck on the wrong side of the road before stopping on Māmalahoa Highway.

When the second victim approached to check on him, police reported that Duarte allegedly made statements about “saving people’s lives” and that “God sent me on a mission.”

“Duarte then retrieved a rifle from within the truck and pointed it at the victim, who fled the area and called police,” according to a news release from police.

With the assistance of an off-duty detective from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section, Kona patrol officers were able to positively identify Duarte, locate him, and take him into custody without incident. The firearm was recovered.

In addition to these charges, Duarte was also arrested and charged for an outstanding $200 failure-to-appear bench warrant. His total bail was set at $11,200.

Police ask anyone with information regarding these incidents to contact Detective Bradley Llanes at 808-326-4646, ext. 268, or at Bradley.Llanes@hawaiipolice.gov.