CHINATOWN, Hawaii (KHON2) — A brutal acid attack in Chinatown has left a man seriously injured and the community on edge.
The incident is the latest in a string of crimes in the area and fuels concerns about safety.
A 30-year-old man remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition after the acid attack on Saturday, Aug. 8 near Smith and Hotel streets.
The Honolulu Fire Department said it was sulfuric acid that left the victim with severe burns to his face and upper body — police add the victim is unable to provide a statement due to his condition and said in part:
“The preliminary investigation indicates that the victim did not know the suspect… At this time, it’s not known whether this was a hate crime, or what the suspect’s motives were.”
The attack has left the local community shaken, with residents searching for answers.
“Who did this? That’s what, that’s my concern right now. Who was the one that did this, and we need to find that person,” said Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board Chair Ernest Carvalho.
Police said the investigation is active, but it is not the only crime being looked into.
HPD CrimeMapping shows there have been seven assaults, eight thefts, one sex crime and one burglary all within a two-block radius of the acid attack since Monday, July 14.
“It’s sad incidents like this acid attack, it’s other, you know, kinds of assaults that that deter people. And again, we want to encourage folks to come on down and that’s why we’re putting so much effort into revitalizing this community,” said Honolulu City Council District 6 Councilman Tyler Dos Santos-Tam.
Community members have varying opinions over police presence. A former Chinatown security guard said law enforcement is not doing enough.
“I remember one time being on the phone with my supervisor, and she’s like, ‘Oh, get the police officer again.’ And he was like, ‘You guys could just handle it yourself. You don’t always have to call us,’” said former security guard D’Angelo McIntyre. “And I’m thinking, ‘No, yes I do!’ I can’t put my hands on these people. I don’t have any weapons. You have the gun, you have the armor. This is your job.”
Carvalho snapped some photos of the police response to the acid attack, but still agrees more could be done.
“So they are present and they’ve done a great job. If you look ten years back and you look through today, you can see the difference and it is getting better,” Carvalho said. “What we would like is more foot patrols. Obviously, if they’re walking on their feet, they get to know the community. They get to know those that belong and those that don’t belong.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Honolulu police.