KONA, Hawaiʻi – The bail for 28-year-old Junson Heckerz of Ocean View, a previously wanted fugitive, has been significantly reduced following his arrest in connection with a series of crimes that escalated to an officer-involved shooting in the Captain Cook area on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that despite objections from prosecutors, Kona District Court Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya lowered Heckerz’ total bail from an initial $293,100.00 to $5,000.00 during his initial court appearance this morning, Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Heckerz is ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing tomorrow, June 6, 2025.
The dramatic sequence of events began early Wednesday morning. At approximately 8:30 a.m., Kona patrol officers responded to a reported traffic collision at the intersection of Papalani Road and Māmalahoa Highway near the Miloli‘i Junction in Captain Cook. There was no collision, but officers found a stolen Volkswagen sedan disabled in the roadway. The vehicle’s owner, who had been searching for his car on his Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), reported finding Heckerz in the driver’s seat. After both men exited their vehicles, Heckerz allegedly entered the UTV and fled the scene.
The alleged crime spree continued with multiple incidents throughout the day. At approximately 10:11 a.m., police dispatch received a call about a man attempting to remove a Toyota pickup truck from a residence on Māmalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, about three-quarters of a mile from the initial incident. The suspect fled after being confronted. By 11:50 a.m., officers were investigating a trespassing report on Anapuka Road, about half a mile away, where the suspect’s description matched Heckerz.
Confrontation Leads to Officer-Involved Shooting
The situation culminated at 1:15 p.m. with a report of an active burglary in the 89-1200 block of Māmalahoa Highway. Officers, provided with Heckerz’s description, arrived to find him inside the driver’s seat of the property owner’s Cadillac. When an officer attempted to make contact, Heckerz allegedly began rapidly reversing the vehicle down a long driveway. He then rapidly accelerated the stolen Cadillac directly toward the officer, forcing the officer to jump out of the way. The vehicle crashed through a metal gate at high speed, nearly striking a third police vehicle and propelling the gate into a parked car. Simultaneously, a second officer, standing just outside the metal gate, discharged two rounds at the vehicle. Heckerz subsequently lost control, and the Cadillac crashed into a ditch.
Officers quickly moved to render aid and detain Heckerz, who was unharmed by the gunfire and uninjured in the crash. There were no passengers in the vehicle, and no officers sustained injuries during the incident. While still on scene, a neighbor from the 10:11 a.m. incident reported a burglary at their residence, which police are investigating for a possible connection to Heckerz’s crime spree.
Formal Charges and Judicial Proceedings
Heckerz, who had been featured on the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s “Hawaii’s Most Wanted” program since April, was formally charged on Thursday, June 5, after conferring with the Hawaiʻi County Prosecutor’s Office.
As alleged in the Complaint, Heckerz faces a total of twelve new offenses, in addition to the three outstanding warrants:
- Three counts of Theft in the First Degree (theft of a motor vehicle), a Class B felony with a potential penalty of a ten-year prison term or four years’ probation and up to eighteen months of jail. (Note: An earlier police media release stated “First-degree attempted theft,” however, the formal charges from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney indicate an additional count of Theft in the First Degree.)
- Three counts of Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree.
- One count of Burglary in the First Degree, also a Class B felony carrying a potential penalty of a ten-year prison term or four years probation and up to eighteen months of jail.
- One count of Unauthorized Entry Into a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree.
- One count of Resisting an Order to Stop a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree.
- One count of Reckless Endangering in the Second Degree.
- One count of Theft in the Fourth Degree.
- One count of Criminal Property Damage in the Fourth Degree.
Internal Review Initiated
The Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards has initiated a critical incident review into the officer-involved shooting, a standard procedure for such events. The officer who discharged his firearm, a nearly two-year veteran assigned to the Kona patrol division, has been placed on administrative leave to ensure his mental, emotional, and physical well-being before returning to duty.
This investigation remains ongoing. Police urge anyone who may have witnessed any of these incidents or has information about additional incidents in the area to call the department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or contact Detective Donovan Kohara of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646 ext. 238 or via email at Donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program that maintains confidentiality and does not record calls or subscribe to caller ID.
The charges against Junson Heckerz are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.