Hawai‘i Island police have initiated an attempted murder investigation following a stabbing in Puna late Tuesday night, March 22, 2022.
Shortly after 11:00 p.m., Puna patrol officers responded to a residence on 38th Avenue in Orchidland for a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 24-year-old victim who stated he had been stabbed multiple times. The two suspects were reported to be acquaintances of the victim, who had come to the residence and confronted him. A physical altercation ensued and the victim was stabbed multiple times
The victim was transported by ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He was admitted and later upgraded to stable condition.
The two male suspects left the area prior to police arrival.
Area I Criminal Investigation Section personnel responded to the scene to continue this investigation.
On Wednesday morning, March 23, shortly after 10:30 a.m., police located the two suspects at a residence on Shell Road in the Nānāwale subdivision. Forty-five-year-old Albert Kealoha Mahi Jr. and 47-year-old Vincenso Giovanni Gilbert were arrested. Mahi was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and Gilbert was arrested for first-degree burglary, relative to this investigation. Both men were also arrested on outstanding warrants.
Upon arrest, Mahi was taken to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment of multiple stab wounds and a head injury. He was later released from the hospital. Mahi and Gilbert remain in police custody pending investigation.
Police are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Casey Cabral at (808) 961-2384 or email him at Casey.Cabral@hawaiicounty.gov.
