Hawaii Police Department detectives have arrested and charged a Honokaa man with second-degree assault following a weapons incident that took place within the parking lot area of Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area.
At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 6, South Kohala patrol officers responded to the area of Kawaihae and Akulani Road after a 31-year-old female victim reported she had been shot. The victim reported that she was walking back to her vehicle which was parked at the northern end of the main parking lot at the Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area just after sunset.
As she approached her vehicle, she heard what sounded like a gunshot in the immediate area and initially did not know she had been injured. A short time later, she realized she suffered a large bleeding laceration to her left bicep. She immediately left the area in her vehicle and called for medical and police assistance. Officers located the victim in the area of Kawaihae and Akulani Road and observed an arrow lodged within the driver’s side rear quarter panel. The length and type of arrow was determined to be consistent with arrows designed for use in crossbows.
The victim was transported to the Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital by Hawaii Fire Department medics where she was treated for her injuries and later released.
During the course of the investigation, police identified 32-year-old Gimmy Palafox Ventura as a person of interest, and the possible responsible person who shot at the victim.
The arrow that had been lodged in the victim’s vehicle was later removed, recovered and sent to the Honolulu Police Department Scientific Investigation Section for DNA analysis. On Oct. 5, a DNA match was returned from the shaft of the arrow and the contributor was identified as Ventura.
On Wednesday morning, detectives executed search warrants on Ventura’s residence and vehicle, a 2023 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, at the 4500 block of Ohia Street in Honokaa.
The search warrants resulted in the recovery of two arrows located in Ventura’s bedroom. A crossbow, six additional arrows, numerous arrow tips and fletching were all recovered from Ventura’s vehicle.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigation Section charged Ventura with second-degree assault and bail was set at $2,000.
Ventura made his first appearance Friday in Kona District Court where per diem Judge David Harada-Stone granted him supervised release with special terms and conditions including a mental health assessment.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 2.
Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Cacique Melendez of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646, ext. 281, or via email at Cacique.melendez@hawaiicounty.gov or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
