Hilo, HI – A Mountain View man is in custody following a violent robbery at an auto parts store in Hilo on Tuesday morning, April 1, 2025. Hawai‘i Island police have identified the suspect as 34-year-old Raul Jaramillo Laa.

According to police reports (Report No.: 25-012592), Hilo patrol officers responded to a weapons incident at an auto parts store located within a retail center on the 2100 block of Kanoelehua Avenue shortly before 11:00 a.m.

A store employee reported that a man, later identified as Laa, entered the store and concealed several items in his backpack before attempting to leave without paying. When confronted by a 33-year-old employee, Laa allegedly brandished a knife, verbally threatened the employee, and inflicted a minor cut to his wrist before fleeing the store with the stolen merchandise. The employee declined medical treatment. Police also report that Laa verbally threatened two other store employees during the incident.

Witnesses observed the suspect entering a parked vehicle in the parking lot after leaving the store. Officers located the vehicle, but Laa had already fled on foot.

A coordinated search involving patrol officers and members of the Area I Crime Reduction Unit led to the apprehension of a man matching Laa’s description at a gas station/convenience store on Kekela Street. Upon positive identification, Laa was arrested for first-degree robbery.

At the time of his arrest, Laa was reportedly carrying a backpack, which was seized as evidence pending the issuance of a search warrant.

Laa has been transported to the East Hawai‘i Detention Facility and remains there pending further investigation.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact the Area I Crime Reduction Unit at (808) 961-8222, or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.