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In a shocking incident off the coast of Hawaii, a Kansas resident stands accused of attempting to murder his snorkel tour captain during an excursion. The unsettling event unfolded during a three-hour snorkeling tour in the waters surrounding the islands.
Authorities from Hawai‘i Island reported that 21-year-old Avery Nissen, hailing from Overland Park, Kansas, allegedly attacked the captain with a knife. The victim, identified as Stanley Lurbiecki, a seasoned professional in the boating world, suffered multiple stab wounds, including injuries to his head, hands, and a severe wound to his lower abdomen.
Emergency services were quickly on the scene following the incident, which was reported at 3:21 p.m. on Thursday at the Honokōhau Harbor in Kailua-Kona. Lurbiecki was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he is now in stable condition, receiving care for his injuries.
Nissen faces serious charges including second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree assault. The accusations have left the community and those familiar with the peaceful nature of snorkeling tours in disbelief.
The full details of what led to this violent outburst remain under investigation, as both locals and visitors alike await further developments in this unsettling case.
Officials said other passengers onboard the boat restrained Nissen after he allegedly began attacking the man with a filet knife. Police said a motive for the alleged attack isn’t known.
The small boat marina and harbor at Honokohau is viewed on Dec. 16, 2016, in this aerial photo taken over Kailua Bay, Hawaii. Hawaii, the largest of all the Hawaiian Islands at 4,000 square miles, features active volcanoes, large cattle ranches, unusual flora and fauna, waterfalls, rainforests, and occasionally, snowcapped mountains. (George Rose/Getty Images)
According to the report, the incident happened on a catamaran owned by Hawaii Nautical, a boat tour company.
Mark Towill, owner and president of Hawaii Nautical, told the outlet that, “Stan is stable, he’s recovering. He’s a real hero and a fighter.”
People kayak near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. (Prisma Bildagentur/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“I’m just incredibly grateful that our team is safe and that the situation ended the way it did,” Towill said. “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.”
Bail for Nissen was set at $1.57 million, and he’s expected in court on Monday afternoon.