Hawai’i Police Department
Area I Criminal Investigations Section
Lieutenant Zachary Fernando
Phone: (808) 961-2252
Report No. 23-111096
Media Release
Police arrest and charge 65-year-old James Allen Wilson following a violent encounter at his Mountain View residence on Friday night, November 24, 2023.
On Sunday morning, November 26, 2023, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives charged Wilson with the following offenses after conferral with Hawai’i County Prosecutors Office:
- first-degree assault
- two-counts second degree assault
- second-degree attempted-murder
Total bail for Wilson was set at $295,000.
The charges against Wilson stem from an incident reported on Friday evening, November 24, 2023, at about 7:13 p.m., when South Hilo District patrol officers responded to the Hilo Medical Center for a report of 63-year-old male from Kea’au who had sustained severe head and facial injuries, and a 43-year-old female from Honoka’a, who was struck numerous times in the head with a machete.
The female reported to police that she and the male acquaintance were at the residence of James Allan Wilson located on the 11-1800 block of Ulei Street in the Eden Roc Subdivision, in Mountain View, to speak with Wilson regarding him possibly being in possession of a friends stolen property. At this time, the female reported that Wilson began striking her and the male victim to the head with a machete causing lacerations and severe bleeding.
The female stated that she was able to wrestle the machete away from Wilson, and hid it in his residence to prevent any further assault with it. While in the residence, the female victim and a male witness heard screaming from outside where Wilson and the male victim were last seen. As the female victim and witness exited the residence, they observed the male victim to be laying on the ground bleeding, however Wilson was no longer seen in the area.
On Friday, November 24, 2023, at about 11:20 p.m., Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives and Puna Patrol officers located Wilson at his residence where he was arrested without incident. At the time of arrest, Wilson was observed to have injuries to his facial area, and was transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center. He was treated and released a short time later, and was taken to the East Hawaii Detention Facility for booking, processing, and continued investigation.
On Saturday, November 25, 2023, Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives executed a search warrant on the suspect’s residence, resulting in the recovery of a machete and a baseball bat both which appeared to have blood on them.
Wilson remained in police custody his initial court appearance on Monday, November 27, 2023, in South Hilo District Court. Those with information regarding this crime can also contact Detective Zenas Pacheco (808) 961-2375 or at zenas.pacheco@hawaiicounty.gov.
