Hawai‘i Island police detectives arrested a Hilo man in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred in Hilo on Saturday, May 8, 2021.

Shortly after 10:45 p.m. South Hilo patrol officers responded to the old Pu‘ueo Poi Factory on Kekūanaō‘a Street for an active affray and reports of numerous stabbing victims. Upon arrival, officers observed a man running from the building. Witnesses reported this individual was the responsible party. Police contacted the man, later identified as 38-year-old Johan Welson, of Hilo, arrested him on suspicion of second-degree assault.

Officers located three males outside of the apartment with stab wounds. They were transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The stabbing victims were determined to be a 40-year-old man and his 18-year-old and 14-year-old sons. The 18-year-old was treated and released; the father and his 14-year-old son were both admitted; however, have since been discharged.

During the course of this investigation detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section determined this incident began when the 40-year-old man and his two sons went to the apartment complex to confront Welson. A physical altercation ensued within Welson’s apartment, which resulted in Welson being assaulted and the three males being stabbed.

On Monday afternoon, May 10, after conferring with county prosecutors, Welson was released from police custody pending further investigation.

Police are asking anyone who may have information about this incident to contact Detective Grant Todd of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2381 or email at Grant.Todd@hawaiicounty.gov or call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.