Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged 44-year-old Rilson Rodrigues of Ocean View with a series of offenses, including attempted murder and reckless endangering, following a domestic dispute in Ocean View on Sunday, April 2, 2023.
The charges against Rodrigues stem from an incident reported shortly after 11:00 a.m. on Sunday when Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to a residence in the 92-8000 block of Tiki Lane in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision after a 40-year-old woman reported being in a verbal dispute with Rodrigues. The woman told police that as she tried to leave the area in a vehicle, Rodrigues jumped on the hood of the vehicle and damaged the front windshield. He then retrieved a rifle from another vehicle and fired the weapon multiple times towards the woman, striking the vehicle while she was in it. The victim was not struck by the gunfire and did not receive any injuries during the incident. Rodrigues fled the area in a maroon-colored sedan.
Detectives with the Area II Juvenile Aid Section took over the investigation and, with the assistance of Ka‘ū patrol officers, were able to locate and arrest Rodrigues later that evening. The maroon-colored sedan was also recovered and after executing a search warrant, detectives recovered a loaded .22 caliber rifle and ammunition from within the vehicle.
On Tuesday afternoon, April 4, after conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Rodrigues was charged with one count each of:
- Second-degree attempted murder
- First-degree reckless endangering
- First-degree terroristic threatening
- First degree criminal property damage
- Two counts of ownership prohibited
Bail for these offenses was set at $145,000.
In addition, Rodrigues, who had been previously released on bail for a separate, unrelated offense, was also taken into custody for discharge of sureties after that bail obligation was recalled. Following this, Rodrigues was transported to the Hilo Community Correctional Facility where he remained in custody until his initial arraignment on Wednesday, April 5.
The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
Police are asking anyone who may have information relative to this incident to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Scott Dewey at (808) 326-4646, ext. 303 or email at Scott.Dewey@hawaiicounty.gov.
