Police release surveillance photos of suspect in ‘egregious’ chemical attack

Honolulu police have released surveillance video and photos of the suspect in a chemical attack near Ala Moana Center that left a woman critically injured.

Published: Jan. 26, 2024 at 4:30 AM GMT+8|Updated: 2 hours ago

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu police have released surveillance video and photos of the suspect in a chemical attack near Ala Moana Center that left a woman critically injured.

The suspect fled on foot after the incident was later seen riding a bicycle shirtless.

He remains at large.

Police described as a man in his 20s, about 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds.

He was wearing a black hooded jacket, face mask and camouflage pants at the time of the attack. Later, police say, he was spotted on surveillance video riding a bike.

Here are additional surveillance images of the suspect in the chemical attack.(HPD)
The 25-year-old victim remains hospitalized, police said.

Victim in horrific chemical attack identified as Hawaii private school teacher

Honolulu EMS said the incident occurred near 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. around 9:20 p.m.

After being assaulted with an unknown chemical, the victim’s skin and clothes burned, police said. She ran into the nearby Planet Fitness gym for help and people treated the burns with water before Honolulu EMS arrived. Authorities said victim was initially speaking to first responders.

A witness to Tuesday night’s attack called it “horrible and shocking.”

“She ran inside to wash it off, you know, was very loud. And then on the way out on the stretcher, her face was messed up,” the witness said.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi was also “stunned” by the attack.

“I would hope when it all gets said and done for something as egregious as this action they will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.

Sandra Ahn, a good Samaritan who helped the woman rinse off the liquid at Planet Fitness, said the victim did not know the man who attacked her or why he did it.

“I was asking her who did this to you? Did you know who did this to you? And she like, ‘No, I don’t know. It was this man in the car,’” Ahn said.

She added, “Her clothes like, disintegrated, and she was practically half naked.”

On Thursday, Maryknoll School confirmed in a statement that the victim is a 25-year-old Chinese Language teacher at the campus and that she was in her second year as part of an international exchange program.

“We have notified our partner school and the Chinese Embassy and have offered our support. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family and friends during this most difficult time.”

Meanwhile, those who new the victim are speaking out. Vernon Ching is the president of the U.S. China People’s Friendship Association in Hawaii and met the chemical attack victim in 2022.

“I was a little devastated because, you know, I knew her and I knew what kind of a person she was,” said Ching. “And and for this to happen, it’s just it’s hard to believe that something like this would happen here in Hawaii.”

He said she had been thrilled to be here on Oahu.

“She was excited about everything in Hawaii and also about teaching,” said Ching. “It seemed like oh, she loved children.”

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中国女子在夏威夷被泼化学液体，伤情危重！嫌疑男子特征公布
2024-01-26 11:45

当地时间1月23日晚，一名中国公民在夏威夷檀香山市区街道被泼化学液体，严重受伤，入院治疗。据披露，当地警方仍未寻获涉谋杀未遂的嫌疑人，也未确定袭击中使用的化学液体及袭击发生的可能动机，但多位目击者对嫌疑人特征进行了描述。26日，南都记者从中国驻洛杉矶总领事馆获悉，总领事郭少春已向夏威夷州政府负责人提出交涉。

图片
案发现场。

据外媒报道，当地时间23日晚，在夏威夷檀香山市区街道上，一名嫌疑人从前方接近，向一位女性中国公民脸上投掷了一种不明化学液体。受害者目前在欧胡岛重症监护室接受治疗，情况危急。

当地时间24日下午，警方召开新闻发布会，披露事故细节。警方表示，被化学液体泼溅后，受害者跑到附近一家健身房内，并告诉旁观者，一名身份不明的男子刚刚袭击了她。在救援人员达到之前，健身房内的旁观者向受害者泼水，试图减轻她的痛苦。

警方表示，该化学液体导致受害者脸部、手臂和上半身烧伤。此外，她还吸入了一些化学液体，导致其喉咙和肺部受伤。

袭击发生后，有目击者声称看到嫌疑人朝卡皮奥拉尼大道跑去，嫌疑人身穿黑色连帽夹克、迷彩裤和白色口罩。另有目击者声称，随后，又看到嫌疑人赤裸上身，背着黑色背包，骑着自行车从科纳街前往基奥莫库街。据描述，嫌疑人为一名20多岁的男子。他身高约5英尺8英寸（约172厘米），体重在160至180磅（约73公斤至82公斤）之间，中等身材。

目前，当地警方仍未寻获涉谋杀未遂的嫌疑人，也未确定袭击中使用的化学液体及袭击发生的可能动机。

26日，南都记者从中国驻洛杉矶总领事馆获悉，总领事郭少春第一时间向夏威夷州政府负责人提出交涉，对案件的发生表达高度关切，强烈谴责凶手残忍不法行为，要求夏州政府全力协调救治受伤中国公民，敦促警方加紧侦办案件，尽快将凶手绳之以法，并查明其作案动机。

总领馆已派出工作组于24日紧急赶赴檀香山开展工作。目前，当地警方已进行立案，正在调查侦办。