Puna Man Arrested on Suspicion of Triple Murder

John Ali Hoffman. Photo credit: Hawaiʻi Police Department.

Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested a Puna man on suspicion of multiple murders.

Police say they responded to a disturbance call at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, May 6, in the Leilani Estates subdivision in Puna. Upon arrival, they observed a man exiting the house and driving from the scene in a car with no lights on.

According to department reports, officers made a traffic stop on the car and observed a firearm on the front seat. They arrested the driver and then observed what appeared to be blood dripping from the trunk of the car. The trunk was opened, exposing a deceased woman inside.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as 49-year-old John Ali Hoffman of Leilani Estates.

Checks at the Moku Street home of the reported disturbance revealed the bodies of a male minor and a female minor.  Positive identification has not yet been made.

Hoffman was arrested on suspicion of three counts of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree murder and a firearms offense. He was held at the Hilo police cellblock pending further investigation.

An autopsy is scheduled for today (May 6) on the bodies of three persons found early this morning in Puna.

Police ask anyone with information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or contact Detective Scott Amaral at (808) 961-2276 or scott.amaral@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.