Police identify man killed in Puna lab explosion

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Hawaii Island police have identified the 30-year-old Keaau man who died Thursday from injuries he suffered Dec. 28 in a butane honey oil lab explosion.

Hawaii Island police have identified the 30-year-old Keaau man who died Thursday from injuries he suffered Dec. 28 in a butane honey oil lab explosion.

The victim has been identified as Rasi Summers, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. Summers was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m. Thursday at Straub Medical Center in Honolulu.

The blast occurred Dec. 28 on 17th Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. Police found evidence of a lab used to manufacture butane honey oil at the scene. A 28-year-old woman, who lives at the home but was not there at the time of the explosion, was subsequently arrested and then released pending investigation.

Community members are asked to call the police department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 if they know of any clandestine drug lab.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.