BRIEF: Ka‘u Man Arrested Following Stabbing

A 35-year-old Ka‘u man was arrested Monday night in connection with a stabbing earlier in the evening at an Ocean View convenience store.

According to Ka‘u police, a 44-year-old Ocean View man was shopping with his wife shortly before 7:46 p.m. when he was confronted by an man who challenged him to a fight. The suspect, who was described as an acquaintance of the victim, lunged at the 44-year-old man, allegedly stabbing him in the left side of his body near the ribs and again in the back of the neck when he attempted to flee.

The suspect left the scene in a white pickup truck.

The victim, who was not identified, was transported to Kona Community Hospital where he was listed Tuesday in stable condition.

Police located the suspect, identified as Biti Biti, Jr., at a home in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates where he was arrested at 8:36 p.m. He is being held at the Kona police cellblock in Kealakehe while police continue their investigation. The motive for the attack has not yet been established.