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Man names his assailant in Pearl City home attack

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As he was being treated for life-threatening injuries in the back yard of his Pearl City home early Monday, David Davis told a police officer that business associate David J. Silverman had tried to kill him, according to court documents.

Silverman, 41, was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree arson and criminal property damage last night. He was being held at the Alapai cellblock on $500,000 bail and will make his initial appearance in Honolulu District Court at 8:30 a.m. today.

Silverman allegedly stabbed Davis several times and set fire to Davis’ house while the victim was still inside at about 1 a.m. Monday.

Davis, 52, sustained second- and third-degree burns on 20 percent of his body, as well as multiple stab wounds and smoke inhalation, court documents show.

Signs at the scene indicated that the 6-foot-3-inch Davis survived the attack by breaking and jumping through his bathroom window because the fire had engulfed the front of his house and stored materials blocked the back door.

Court documents said that while being treated at the scene, Davis told a police officer, "David Silverman stabbed me and firebombed my house. David Silverman did this. He tried to kill me."

A firefighter at the scene saw a gray Dodge Ram pickup truck with Silverman’s license plate leaving the area, court documents show.

Police found the truck at 8:05 p.m. Monday near Fort DeRussy Park, and Silverman was arrested.

Court documents also pointed out that Davis initiated a second-degree terroristic threatening and criminal property damage case on Friday, alleging that Silverman had gone to the Pearl City house, threatened him and damaged the front door and window of the house. Davis did not see Silverman, but recognized his voice.

Davis told police that night that "he and Silverman had recent business dealings that ended on bad terms," according to court documents.

A witness reported seeing a man yelling and throwing rocks at the window and later driving away in a gray Dodge Ram pickup truck bearing Silverman’s license plate. Another witness said that either on that night or last Thursday, he saw a man standing outside Davis’ home yelling and acting aggressively. The witness also gave a physical description matching Silverman’s, court documents show.

Nova-Jean McKenzie, Davis’ landlady, told reporters Monday that Davis had contacted her last week about damage at the house, which he attributed to Silverman.

McKenzie said Davis told her that Silverman owed him money.

Davis’ pregnant wife had returned to her homeland in Thailand, and Davis was getting ready to join her at the end of the month, McKenzie said.

Police found 21 guns, including semiautomatics, at the house, as well as a gun safe, drugs and drug paraphernalia, McKenzie said.

Davis is a former owner of 24 7 Towing.

Police listed Silverman’s home address as the same Awanei Street address in Waipahu as the 24 7 Towing business. Business registration records showed Davis as the president and director of the towing business in 2009, but a 2010 report filed July 7 listed another owner.

In October a man believed to have been Davis barricaded himself at the towing company after police responded to a call of shots fired.

The standoff lasted about eight hours, and families living in neighboring apartments were evacuated. Specialized Services officers were called to the scene, but crisis negotiators managed to coax the man off the premises.

 

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