JoCo man charged with attempted murder in stabbing on snorkel boat in Hawaii
A 21-year-old Johnson County man is facing attempted murder charges, accused of stabbing a captain during a snorkel tour off the coast of Hawaii, according to police.
Avery Nissen, of Overland Park, has been charged in Kona District Court with attempted second-degree murder and first-degree and second-degree assault, according to a news release from the Hawai’i Police Department.
According to police, at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday, Kona patrol officers responded to Honokōhau Harbor after a fishing vessel returned from sea with the victim and a suspect in a stabbing incident onboard.
Nissen allegedly attacked the boat’s captain, a 62-year-old man, with a fillet knife during a three-hour snorkel tour. Other passengers intervened and restrained him, police said. The motive for the attack is unknown.
The victim suffered a stab wound to the lower abdomen and numerous knife cuts to the head and hands. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Nissen was charged Friday and was being held on $1.57 million bond. His initial court appearance was scheduled for Monday.
Anyone with information regarding the attack is asked to contact Det. Bradley Llanes at 808-326-4646, ext. 268, or via email at Bradley.Llanes@hawaiipolice.gov.
