(BIVN) – A Mountain View man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault, following an alleged attack with a machete and baseball bat that injured two people in the Eden Roc Estates subdivision on Friday.

The Office of the Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen released a police photo of the apparently injured suspect, 65 year-old James Allan Wilson.

UPDATE – (10 p.m.) – The Hawaiʻi Police Department in a news release provided more information on the incident:

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.

The Prosecuting Attorney also shared this information:

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that a Mountain View man, 65 year-old James Allan Wilson was arrested and charged in relation to an attempted murder and felony assault incident involving two victims that occurred at a residence within the Eden Roc Estates subdivision on November 24, 2023.

Wilson is alleged to have struck a woman in the head with a machete and a man with a baseball bat. Wilson, who remains in custody in lieu of $295,000.00 bail, is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Monday afternoon in Hilo District Court.

As the Complaint alleges, Wilson was charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and two counts of Assault in the Second Degree. Attempted Murder in the Second Degree usually carries a penalty of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. Assault in the First Degree is a class B felony offense usually carries a maximum penalty of a ten-year prison term. Prosecutors have provided notice of an intention to seek an extended term of imprisonment.

The charges are merely allegations and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was initiated by Puna Patrol. The felony investigation was led by Detective Zenas Pacheco, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Patrick Muñoz and Andrew Son.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment. Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement should call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.