Homeless man slain in park is identified
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the 48-year-old homeless man who was stabbed to death at Kailua District Park last week as Robert Coleman Jr.
Coleman died after being stabbed Friday morning at the park, police said. Brian T. Kim, 58, who was arrested after the attack, is scheduled to enter a plea in Circuit Court on July 29 to a second-degree murder charge. He is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
A witness told police that he saw the suspect lunge toward the victim and had "appeared to be punching him," according to a police report filed in court this week.
The witness quoted the victim as saying, "He stabbed me," the report said.
Both men are believed to be homeless and had spent the night near the gym and pool area of the park, police said.
Kailua residents held two crime prevention meetings this week at the park not far from where Coleman was killed and volunteered for a neighborhood security watch program.
Man, 19, held after carjacking
A 19-year-old former Mountain View resident is in custody for allegedly stealing a car from a Hilo shopping mall after threatening the driver, Hawaii County police said.
Police officials said the carjacking occurred at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of a Target store on Puainako Avenue.
A 24-year-old Hilo man told police that as he was about to get into his late-model Hyundai sedan, a man threatened him with a weapon. The suspect then took the keys to the car and drove away.
An islandwide bulletin was issued, and the vehicle was found in the Pohoiki area late Wednesday night.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery and car theft. A 14-year-old girl who was with the suspect at the time of his arrest was interviewed by detectives and released to her parents.
The car’s owner was not injured during the incident.
Police ask that anyone with information on this case or who may have witnessed the robbery to contact Detective Clarence Davies III at 961-2384 or cdavies@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Grant Todd at 961-2385 or gtodd@co.hawaii.hi.us
Thief snatches woman’s purse
Police are investigating a purse snatching Wednesday in downtown Hilo.
Two women were walking on Haili Street when a man came from behind and took the purse of a woman, 64, from Keaau. He fled down an alley near the Palace Theater, police said.
The suspect was described as in his late 20s, wearing a white tank-top undershirt, brown shorts and slippers.
