Woman Charged in Hammer Attack at Maui Homeless Encampment

Amanda Blizzard, courtesy photo Maui Police.

By Wendy Osher

A 34-year-old woman has been charged with first degree assault after she allegedly attacked a man with a hammer punch in South Maui on Saturday, Feb. 9, police said.

The woman, identified as Amanda Blizzard, was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Lt. Jayson Rego with the Maui Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division said the 32-year-old male victim was assisting another man with the construction of a shelf at a homeless encampment located in the kiawe brush along West Welakahao Road when the incident occurred.

According to Lt. Rego, the man reported that he suddenly felt some kind of a punch in the back, and then realized that he had been stabbed. Witnesses described the tool used in the incident as a hammer punch, which is pointed on one end.

Police said according to witnesses reports, the suspect allegedly hit the victim once in the back and then fled.

Patrol officers later observed Blizzard walking along Welakahao Street, placed her under arrest at 8:55 p.m., and transported her to the police station.