A 21-year-old suspect allegedly attacked his victim with a machete after challenging him to a fight at a public housing complex in January, according to court documents.

Following a Feb. 4 District County preliminary hearing Onos Baelo’s charge of first-degree terroristic threatening will be heard in Circuit Court Feb. 17.

Baelo was initially was arrested Jan. 30 on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder for allegedly attacking Keoholani Nihoa at the 50-unit Kauhale Nani apartment complex, about a mile from the Wahiawa police station. 

The case was later reduced to first-degree terroristic threatening when he was charged on Feb. 2.

During Baelo’s Feb. 4 preliminary hearing, District Court Judge Lono Lee found there was probable cause that the suspect had committed the offense charge.

Lee sent the case to Circuit Court for a hearing Feb. 17.

Lee also confirmed Baelo’s bail at  $15,000.

Nihoa and his girlfriend were walking to their unit at North Cane street at 10:54 p.m. Jan. 30 when he head someone curse and challenge him to a fight, according to a police affidavit.

Nihoa told police that Baelo approached him, pulled a machete from the right side of his shorts and swung, prompting Nihoa to jump backwards to avoid being struck. Nihoa said the machete’s blade clipped his shirt.

Both men fled the scene.

Nihoa’s girlfriend later identified Baelo as the attacker when officers questioned people about the incident.