A 21-year old man was arrested in Hawaii on Monday in connection with the stabbing deaths of his grandparents, police say.
Officers arrived at the Hilo home just before 7 a.m. after receiving a call about a disturbance. Upon entering the house, police found three victims — Jeffrey Yoshio Takamine, 68, and Carla Kayoko Takamine, 68, who were both pronounced dead at the scene, and an unidentified 28-year old male suffering from multiple lacerations to his head, Hawaii News Now reported.
The suspect, Joshua Ho, is reportedly the grandson of the Takamine’s and was being restrained by family members when police arrived. The unidentified male’s relationship to the other victims and the suspect was not disclosed, according to KITV.
Big Island police investigating double murder in Hilo — Jeffrey and Carla Takamine, the owners of Big Island Delights cookie company were stabbed to death, allegedly by their own grandson, who has now been arrested @KITV4 >> https://t.co/yqrxyKMFKk pic.twitter.com/6uBdtxjkpb
— Tom George (@TheTomGeorge) January 17, 2023
Police took Ho into custody at the scene and transported him to a local hospital for medical treatment due to lacerations on his hands. He was then taken to the jail in Hilo where he remains in custody awaiting formal charges, Hawaii News Now reported. Police are investigating the stabbings as first-degree murder. (RELATED: Investigation Leads to Daughter’s Arrest After Finding Father, Sister Murdered)
The unidentified victim was also transported to a hospital where he received treatment for his injuries and was released, KITV reported.
The Takamine’s, owners of Big Island Delights Gift Shop, were remembered by neighbors for their kindness and generosity.
“I have a nursery business and she went out of her way to help me when I used to go on trips,” David Shiigi told Hawaii News Now. Shiigi, who knew the couple for many years, added that Carla would often donate products from her business to him so that he could “share with people on the mainland. So yeah,” he added, “they were kind and both of them were good people.”
Following their deaths, the Big Island Delights Gift Shop will be closed indefinitely, the outlet reported.