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12-19-17 Hostage incident ends (Update)

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigation Division, Area I
Lieutenant Reed K. Mahuna
Phone: (808) 961-2356
Report No.  C17035069/PN

 

 

Media Release

Hostage incident ends in Puna with the arrest of a 33-year-old Leilani man.

A hostage standoff in Leilani Estates ended just after 2:00 p.m. after the suspect emerged from the residence he barricaded himself in since early this morning. After coming out of the home, the suspect shot himself in the facial area with a rifle. Medics were on scene and he was immediately transported to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment. The suspect has been identified as Jovin Chang of Leilani Estates.

After an early morning shooting that injured a 25-year-old male party Chang was located at an address on Leilani Boulevard. Chang barricaded himself in the residence with five individuals. The hostages were five females ages nine, fourteen, eleven, sixteen and thirty. They were all unharmed in this incident.

Leilani Boulevard remains closed as police continue this investigation.