Maui Police Investigate Attempted Murder in Piʻihana

Photo by Wendy Osher

By Wendy Osher

An investigation has been launched into an alleged confrontation near the Piʻihana housing area on Saturday morning in which a man was allegedly struck in the head with a rock and told authorities he had the windows of his vehicle shot out, police said.

The 52-year-old Kahului man told police that he was driving a female friend home when the incident occurred at around 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2013, authorities said.

The man was reportedly treated and released from the hospital after sustaining what police described as a 6-inch laceration to the left side of his forehead.

Maui Police Lt. Jayson Rego with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division released information saying the man told police that two unknown men exited a black truck, approached his vehicle in the parking area located at the North Market Street, Piʻihana Road intersection, and began yelling at him.

According to Lt. Rego, the man told police he was then pursued and trapped in the area of Piʻihana Farms where the confrontation reportedly turned physical.

Lt. Rego said one of the males allegedly grabbed a large rock and smashed the man’s driver side window and struck the victim with the rock in the head, as the second male allegedly used a shotgun to shoot out the victim’s rear windows. The victim managed to escape in his vehicle.

The female passenger, identified by police as Joy Flint, 36, of Wailuku, Maui, had reportedly gotten into the truck with the two men and was transported to the hospital several hours later by family for a crystal methamphetamine overdose, police said.

Lt. Rego said Flint confirmed the victim’s statement, and added that her bag was stolen during the ordeal.

“Due to Flint’s condition she was unable to provide any further details and remained in guarded condition at the hospital,” said Lt. Rego in a press release.

Police say the suspects are still unknown at this time and an investigation is ongoing.