Hawaiʻi Island Woman's Car Hit by Suspected Pellet in Hawaiian Paradise Park

A loud slam against a car on 26th Avenue near Kaloli Drive in Hawaiian Paradise Park sent a Hawaiʻi Island woman scrambling Tuesday after what police say appears to be a possible BB or pellet impact. The driver, Loretta Lopes, discovered a hole in the driver’s side door after stopping at a nearby stop sign, and no one was physically injured.

Lopes said she was driving down 26th Avenue when she slowed to look at animals along the road, heard the impact, pulled up to the stop sign and got out to inspect the vehicle. “Now, if it came to my head or hit my window, it could have directly hit me in the head,” Lopes said, describing the close call. She added, “That’s what shocks me the most, is if a pellet could do that, and it could come into my door either way, I still could’ve got hurt.”

Puna District Commander Capt. Todd Pataray and Hawaiʻi Police Department officers responded to the scene and inspected the damage. Pataray said the damage “appears consistent with a possible BB or pellet impact” and that investigators are continuing follow-up on the report. He also told reporters, “At present, there is no information indicating that this incident is related to any hunting activity.”

Police have not reported recovery of a projectile, no suspects or arrests have been announced, and no police case number was provided in the initial release. Officers with the Puna District remain assigned to the inquiry as they seek additional information from witnesses and residents in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision.

Lopes framed the incident in personal terms, linking it to a family loss to gun violence. “We lost our niece, and she makes her one year mark very soon, and we lost her to gun violence,” Lopes said, urging whoever is responsible to recognize how dangerous the conduct could be. In the police statement, the department reiterated safety guidance: “The Hawaiʻi Police Department encourages the safe and lawful use of all weapons, including air rifles and pellet guns. Discharging these items in residential areas can pose a danger to the public and may constitute a criminal offense.”

Residents with information about the incident on 26th Avenue near Kaloli Drive are asked to contact the Hawaiʻi Police Department non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. For urgent matters call 911, and anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. The Puna District office and investigators will continue following leads as part of the ongoing inquiry.