Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Acting Lieutenant Norbert Serrao
Phone: 961-2383
Report No. C15021159
David Bars
Media Release
A 32-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and assault in connection with a double stabbing early Monday (July 20) at Wailoa State Park.
At 4:31 p.m. Monday, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section charged David Lester Bars, who has no permanent address, with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault. His bail was set at $260,000. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Tuesday (July 21).
At 12:21 a.m. Monday, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a report of a stabbing during a disturbance at Wailoa State Park.
Officers found two victims, a 27-year-old Pāhoa man with a stab wound to the throat and a 24-year-old Pāhoa woman with a cut on her right leg. Police determined that the victims had been injured when an argument became physical. They were taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.
Other officers en route to the park found a man matching the description of the suspect, later identified as Bars, walking on Piʻilani Street. Bars was arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.
The male victim was treated for his injuries and remains at the hospital in stable condition. The female victim was treated for her injuries and released from the hospital.