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A man from Kansas stands accused of attacking a Hawaii boat captain with a filet knife while at sea.
Avery Nissen is charged with second-degree attempted murder following the April 16 incident that unfolded during a snorkeling tour off Kona’s coast. The details were released in a statement by the Hawai’i Police Department.
Upon arrival at Honokōhau Harbor, Kona patrol officers discovered the boat’s captain, identified as Stanley Lurbiekci by Hawaii News Now, with stab wounds to his abdomen and lacerations on his head and hands.
According to passengers, Nissen allegedly used a filet knife in the attack. Fellow passengers were able to subdue him until the vessel returned to the harbor.
The 62-year-old captain was taken to Kona Community Hospital and is reportedly in stable condition.
Owner and president of Hawaii Nautical Mark Towill described Lurbiekci as a “real hero and a fighter.”
“I’m just incredibly grateful that our team is safe and that the situation ended the way it did,” Towill told the news outlet. “I’ve never heard of anything like this happening in this industry before, and just really grateful to all of our team for the way that they reacted, the professionalism that was demonstrated.”
Police said the motive in the attack is unknown.
In addition to the second-degree attempted murder charge, prosecutors have also charged Nissen with first-degree assault and second-degree assault, police said.
He’s currently being held on a $1,570,000 bond and is expected to appear in Kona District Court for an initial appearance on April 20. It’s unclear whether Nissen has retained an attorney.
Police are asking anyone with information on the alleged attack to contact Detective Bradley Llanes at (808) 326-4646, ext. 268 or via email at Bradley.Llanes@hawaiipolice.gov.