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HAWAII COUNTY POLICE
Riley Asuncion
A 38-year-old Puna man, who was shot by police after allegedly trying to run down two officers with his sport utility vehicle, was charged Wednesday with three counts of first-degree attempted murder.
Hawaii County police also charged Riley Asuncion with two counts of third-degree assault, one count of kidnapping, terroristic threatening, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, fourth-degree theft, driving without a license, reckless driving, and resisting an order to stop.
His bail was set at $1.5 million.
Asuncion is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
On Monday morning, Asuncion illegally entered a pink SUV owned by a 30-year-old woman without her knowledge, police said.
Police responded to an 11:26 a.m. call Monday reporting what appeared to be of domestic case in the SUV.
The woman was driving on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo, when Asuncion surprised her by appearing from the back seat, allegedly assaulted her and took control of the SUV.
The woman escaped from the SUV on Kinoole Avenue, police said.
Police said Asuncion then “swerved in an attempt to ram a police vehicle and then fled to Stainback Highway, turned around on a side road and drove toward two officers,” who had exited their vehicles, police said.
The officers fired guns, with three shots fired at the SUV as it continued down the highway, police said.
Asuncion, who had been struck by a single round fired by police, stopped and fled into the bushes. He surrendered and was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated for a superficial wound to his torso, police said.
