HONOLULU (KHON2) – The man accused of randomly attacking two people in Miliani on Wednesday, February 1, has been charged. Honolulu police said Desmond Kekahuna was charged with attempted murder and second-degree assault. He is in custody on $1 million bail.
He is accused of hitting a woman with his vehicle and assaulting her in a Miliani parking lot on the morning of Wednesday, February 1. Police said he then attacked a man who tried to intervene.
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Zacharia Jones said a routine trip to the store turned into a nightmare Wednesday.
“I never thought this would happen to me or anyone else,” said Zachariah Jones, who helped save the woman from the attack.
Jones said he heard a loud crash in a millionaire parking lot as the situation unfolded. That’s when Honolulu police said a woman was intentionally hit by a car. Jones said he first thought it was a car accident, but after other people called him and asked to help the woman, police said, the suspect turned on Jones.
“I just put my hands up and tried to be non-threatening, and I held back, like, ‘Hey, I’m just trying to help’. And then, that’s when he started hitting me,” Jones said.
Honolulu police have identified the suspect as Desmon Kekahuna. The 46-year-old was charged with attempted murder and second-degree assault on Friday, February 3.
“I just remember rolling onto my back, and I locked eyes with him. And, he kept telling me, ‘Leave me alone, leave me alone.’ I didn’t understand what he meant because I just told him, ‘I’m trying to help; I’m trying to help.'”
Jones said he had previously served in the Navy, and was in the right place at the right time.
“I was raised to always help people who need that help. I think with the training I got in the military, when that lady started barking at me, I was like, ‘Yes, ma’am,'” Jones said.
Jones’ family is in shock over the incident, but they are not surprised that he came forward.
Zakaria’s father, James Jerry Jones, said, “I’m proud of him because he went to help that woman, and it looks like the guy had my son in mind.”
He said, my son is a hero.
Jones said he was released from the hospital on Thursday, February 2. He’s still on the road to recovery physically and mentally after the traumatic attack, but he’s glad he was there to help.
“I’m no hero. It was just me trying to help someone in need,” Jones said.
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According to police, the 37-year-old woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Kekahuna remains in custody on $1 million bail.
