HPD: Suspect, victim beaten to death in Makaha are related

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Makaha community is reeling after police said a 38-year-old woman was beaten to death.

The suspect, a 19-year-old man, has been arrested for murder in the second degree on Wednesday, April 20 in Makaha.

HPD said they got the 911 call just before midnight Tuesday from area residents who had witnessed the beating.

“A witness reported that a male was beating a female in the middle of the roadway on Farrington Highway in Makaha. Officers arrived and observed the female victim severely beaten and unresponsive,” said Lt. Deena Thoemmes, HPD homicide detective.

Witnesses also said they heard two people arguing but they don’t know what they were arguing about. By the time witnesses came to help the victim, they say she was so badly beaten she was unrecognizable.

Makaha resident Alfred Collins lived near the location where the incident happened.

This is pretty much a quiet area — a lot of retirees live around this neighborhood. Good families live in this area — not too many problems like what happened here last night.”

— Alfred Collins, a Makaha resident

The Emergency Medical Services tried to save the victim, however, she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The 19-year-old male suspect was identified and located nearby in serious condition and he was taken to the nearest hospital.

After further investigation, HPD said it appears that the suspect was arguing with the victim before the suspect physically assaulted the victim, causing her to sustain fatal injuries.

Thoemmes said the male suspect and the victim are related. The identity of the victim will not be released at this time.

Some witnesses that KHON2 spoke with did not want to be identified.

“I am in healthcare so I’ve seen a lot of stuff but that I’ve never ever seen before. I tried to render aid but there was nothing I could do at that point,” said one witness.

Residents are shaken by the incident and are shocked by the violence in their neighborhood.

“Just to know that it was right there, walking distance, something that tragic makes you feel unsafe nowadays. When we saw that, it was shocking to know that something like that could happen outside of our doors,” said another witness.

Police said no weapons were found. The suspect has not yet been charged.

Honolulu police are investigating.