Three people were injured during a reported stabbing Saturday night in Hilo.
Shortly after 10:45 p.m. Saturday, South Hilo patrol officers responded to the old Pu‘ueo Poi Factory on Kekuanao‘a Street for an active affray and reports of numerous stabbing victims, according to the Hawaii Police Department. 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, and arrested him on suspicion of second-degree assault.
Officers also 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 the investigation detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section determined the 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, Welson was released from police custody pending further investigation.
Anyone who may have information about this incident should 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 department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.