KAILUA-KONA — The man who was found alongside Highway 190 was killed by a gunshot to the chest, police reported, and the search is on for the suspect.
KAILUA-KONA — The man who was found alongside Highway 190 was killed by a gunshot to the chest, police reported, and the search is on for the suspect.
Alanaokala Solomon Covington, 36, of Kailua-Kona, was killed on Sunday and his body buried along Highway 190. It appeared it was placed in a burial site along the mauka side of what’s known as the upper road, near the scenic lookout on the highway that connects Kailua-Kona and Waimea.
Officers searched Kailua-Kona for the suspect on Friday.
The suspect — whom police did not identify publicly — was known to frequent a homeless encampment near the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Henry Street, and police went to attempt an arrest, said Capt. Chad Basque, who heads the Hawaii Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigations Section.
Shortly after 9 a.m., Special Response Team officers, along with patrol officers, encircled the area. They also closed the mauka lane of Henry Street during the search.
The suspect is believed to be armed and concerns for officer safety led to the use of the specialized team, Basque said.
Officers encircled the area, including three officers along Queen Kaahumanu Highway. SRT officers were dressed in olive-drab uniforms and black helmets, attire which is often mistaken for military equipment. They were armed with assault rifles, while several patrol officers were armed with shotguns.
The suspect was not found at the location.
Although considered armed and a danger to officers, Basque said the suspect is not considered a threat to public safety.
An autopsy conducted Friday revealed Covington died of a gunshot wound. Attempts to contact the family of Covington were unsuccessful Friday. On Thursday, Malama Solomon, Covington’s aunt and a former state Senator who represented North Hawaii, said the family was devastated by the news.
“He was a very strong person. He had his own manao, his own thoughts,” she said.
Anyone with information about this case should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Jerome Manuel at 326-4646, ext. 262, or jerome.manuel@hawaiicounty.gov.
People who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.