David Bars, photo courtesy Hawaii County Police

HILO, Hawaii – 32 year-old David Lester Bars has been charged with attempted murder and assault in connection with a double stabbing that took place overnight at Wailoa State Park in Hilo.

Police issued an updatde media release, along with a photo of Bars, on Monday afternoon.

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.

Images captured by photographer Daryl Lee show detectives investigating the scene of the alleged crime on Monday.

Hawaii Co. Police detectives and technicians work the crime scene at Wailoa State Park on Monday. Photography by Daryl W. Lee.

Evidence gathered at the Wailoa State Park crime scene on Monday. Photography by Daryl W. Lee.

The scene of the alleged crime at Wailoa State Park in Hilo. Photography by Daryl W. Lee.