Man charged with murdering his mother on Farrington Highway

A 19-year-old Makaha man was charged with second degree murder today after he allegedly killed his mother following an argument on Farrington Highway Tuesday night.

Joshua N. McPeek’s bail was set at $1 million by 1st Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Shimozono.

Mc­Peek’s 38-year-old mother was identified as Michelle McPeek in charging documents filed Thursday.

The McPeek family issued a statement to KHON2 on Thursday that read in part, “We are in deep grief and mourning. … She was a loving mother, a daughter, and a sister, and our ohana is heartbroken.”

Honolulu police officers dispatched to a report of a man attacking a woman on Farrington Highway at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday found Michelle McPeek unresponsive on the highway near Upena Street, with significant injuries to her face. Emergency Medical Serv­ices workers were unable to resuscitate her, and she was pronounced dead at 12:06 a.m, according to police.

Joshua McPeek was arrested at 12:17 a.m. Wednesday at 84-0570 Farrington Highway.

McPeek and his mother were seen arguing before the attack. After being taken into custody, he allegedly told officers he did not remember anything of the altercation leading to his mother’s death, and appeared to be under the influence of illegal drugs.

Second-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison with the possibility of parole.