Police have opened a murder investigation in the wake of a fatal stabbing that occurred early Monday morning in Kaumana.
Police have opened a murder investigation in the wake of a fatal stabbing that occurred early Monday morning in Kaumana.
A relative identified the victim as 38-year-old Lloyd Rubio of Hilo, owner of Big Island Construction. The relative didn’t provide any other details.
Police have released few details on the incident and didn’t identify Rubio, but said in a written statement that officers responded at 5:19 a.m. Monday to the 1400 block of Kaumana Drive and found the victim with a stab wound.
Rubio was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:11 a.m.
County tax records identify Lloyd J. Rubio and Karen Leiko Rubio as the property’s owners.
Neighbors told the Tribune-Herald they didn’t see or hear an altercation, but saw the police response.
“One police came and told me to lock my house and stay inside, so I just looked from the window, but I don’t know what was going on,” said Tokie Fujimoto. “I don’t know him (Rubio), because we don’t talk. He just going in and out (to) work.”
Another neighbor, Donald Wilbur, said he was awakened by the arrival of responders.
“My bedroom is right here so I kind of noticed all the flashing lights and stuff early this morning. I figured something was up when I looked out the window and I saw patrol cars there along with the ambulance, there, too. So I thought maybe there was an accident on Kaumana Drive,” he said.
Wilbur said he didn’t know there had been a stabbing until he was questioned by an officer.
“He said they were still investigating whether it was somebody who had broke into the house or if it was somebody who was already in the house or what,” he said.
Wilbur said he also didn’t know Rubio, but had heard his name and that he was a contractor.
“They were quiet over there. Everybody here is kind of quiet,” he said.
Police ask that anyone with information call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Wendall Carter at 961-2378 or wcarter@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
The fatal stabbing was the second reported major violent incident in Hilo in 2013 and the third in two weeks.
Two police officers, Garrett Hatada and Joshua Gouveia, were shot Jan. 2 while investigating reports of gunfire by Wailoa Pond. They were released from the hospital on Saturday and continue to recover from leg wounds.
Police have charged 31-year-old Keaka Martin of Hilo with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and numerous other offenses in the officers’ shooting. Martin reportedly shot himself in the chest the following day as police converged on an East Palai Street home where he was hiding. At last report, he remained in critical condition at Hilo Medical Center.
On the night of Dec. 29, 32-year-old Faafetai Fiu was shot to death on Bayfront Highway in Hilo near Mooheau Park.
No arrests have been made in Fiu’s slaying.