Hawaii Island police have arrested two men in connection with a violent robbery that occurred early Saturday morning in Hilo. The incident unfolded around 1 a.m. when officers responded to a call reporting a man with a gun terrorizing and chasing individuals along Kilauea Avenue.
According to the police report, a 35-year-old victim reported that three men in a vehicle began shouting and threatening pedestrians. In an attempt to defuse the situation, the victim confronted the suspects, but things quickly escalated. Anthony Romero Gonsalves, 40, from Mountain View, allegedly pulled out a BB gun and started threatening people.
During the altercation, Kalani Rocky Nobriga, 43, from Pahoa, struck a 56-year-old man with a baseball bat. Fortunately, the victim sustained only minor injuries and was treated at the scene by emergency personnel.
The vehicle carrying the suspects was located shortly afterward, and police arrested Nobriga, Gonsalves, and Isaiah Lane Kamaka Rosa, 28, from Mountain View. Upon investigation, authorities discovered that Gonsalves had been carrying a Glock-style BB gun, which was later seized as evidence. Rosa was found in possession of 6.3 grams of marijuana.
Further investigation revealed that the three suspects were also connected to thefts reported by other victims. Inside their vehicle, officers discovered a stolen backpack, 16.6 grams of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.
On Sunday, police charged Nobriga with multiple drug-related offenses, including the promotion of dangerous drugs in the first, second, and third degrees, as well as assault in the third degree. His bail was set at $198,000.
Gonsalves was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, with bail set at $100,000. Both men appeared in court on Monday, where a judge denied their request for supervised release. They are scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday for further proceedings.
