(Update) Police Charge Hilo Murder Suspect

Hawai‘i Police Department detectives have charged a 70-year-old Hilo man in connection with a Downtown Hilo murder that occurred on Saturday morning, Nov. 8, 2025.

On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 9, upon conferral with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, 70-year-old Robert Clifford Bradshaw, was charged with the following offenses:

• Second-degree murder
• First-degree criminal property damage

Bradshaw’s bail has been set at $510,000. He remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10, in Hilo District Court.   

The charges against Bradshaw stem from an incident reported on Saturday, at 7:38 a.m., where South Hilo patrol officers responded to a disturbance in a parking lot on Kamehameha Avenue, where they discovered a man who was reportedly run over by a vehicle later determined to be operated by Bradshaw.

Witnesses told police that the suspect, later identified as Bradshaw, of no permanent address in Hilo, arrived in the parking lot in a large white van and approached the victim while holding a knife. A physical altercation ensued, after which Bradshaw returned to his van and drove over the victim before fleeing the scene.

A short time later, officers located Bradshaw in his vehicle in close proximity to the scene. He was arrested for attempted second-degree murder and transported by Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel to Hilo Benioff Medical Center (HBMC) for treatment of injuries sustained during the altercation. After being medically cleared, he was transported to the East Hawai‘i Detention Facility. His vehicle was recovered as evidence and towed to the Hilo Police Station pending a search warrant.

The victim, a 64-year-old Hilo man, was also transported to HBMC where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 9:03 a.m. Saturday. His identity is being withheld pending positive identification and official notification of next of kin. An autopsy will be performed later this week to determine the exact cause of death.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene and are continuing this investigation.

Police ask anyone with information regarding this incident to please call Detective David Po‘ohina of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385 or email david.pohina@hawaiipolice.gov or the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.