Puna Information Update for August 5th, 2019

One person in custody following the discovery of a body near Mackenzie State Park early Monday morning that lead to the closure of Highway 137 for several hours.

The Hawaii Police Department (HPD) and the Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) responded to report of an unresponsive male victim on Highway 137 front MacKenzie State Park early Monday morning (August 5th).

The initial call came in 1:56 am and HFD crews from the Pahoa Fire Station along with HPD officers from the Puna Patrol responded to the scene. Upon the arrival of emergency crews, passerby reported male victim was lying unresponsive in the middle of Highway 137 and making attempts to provide life-saving measures to the victim (victim described to be male in his late 30's) and with injuries to this head and body.

Once HFD and HPD crews, continued with life-saving measures to the male victim, but later declared the male victim, dead-on arrival (DOA). HPD officers immediately took over the scene and began their investigation into the incident.

HPD also closed Highway 137 between MacKenzie State Park and Pohoiki while HPD Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Division (CID) conducted their investigation.

HPD later identified the victim as 38-year-old, Reginald Little Brave of Pahoa.

Later on Monday, HPD took into custody 26-year-old Daryl Peneaux, nephew to Little Brave, who was booked on suspicion of second-degree murder. Peneaux informed the police that he was involved in a physical altercation with Little Brave prior to the incident.

HPD reports the case has been classified as a murder investigation.