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Police investigating assault on Kona school bus 05-17-02

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA PATROL
CAPTAIN JOHN E. DAWRS
PHONE: 326-4211
MAY 17, 2002
H-07251/H-07255

MEDIA RELEASE

Kona police are investigating an assault case in which a 17-year-old Konawaena High School student was allegedly assaulted on a school bus.

About 4:15 p.m. Monday (May 13, 2002), Kona Patrol officers responded to a call to the Kona Community Hospital for a reported assault.

The victim there told the officers that sometime between 2:50 and 3:25 p.m., he was assaulted on a school bus in front of the Hookena Elementary School.

The victim said he was riding in the rear of the bus when it stopped at one of the regular stops in front of the school and that two adult males boarded the bus and assaulted him. He said that after his assailants left, he was taken home by the bus driver and then taken by his older brother to the hospital, where he was treated for bruises and contusions to his head and face and released.

Police officers investigating the case learned that the victim had been involved in two earlier altercations at Konawaena High School with another 21-year-old male and that one of the altercations occurred just before the victim got on the bus. In both of these incidents, the 17-year-old allegedly assaulted the 21-year-old.

Officers also determined that the two 30-year-old males who allegedly assaulted the victim are the twin brothers of the 21-year-old and that the attack on the bus was in retribution for the attacks on their younger brother.

Officers contacted the twin brothers Monday night, and counter assault complaints were initiated by their 21-year-old brother.

Police are continuing the investigation and are asking that witnesses to any of the assaults call Officer David Araki of the Kona Patrol at 326-4200.

A representative of the State Department of Education said the incident was isolated and assured parents that it is safe to ride the school bus.

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