A young Kansas man has been accused of repeatedly stabbing a boat captain while on a snorkeling tour in Hawaii.
Avery Nissen, 21, of the affluent Kansas City suburb Overland Park, was arrested by the Hawaii Police Department on Thursday and charged with attempted murder.
Police said the young man was on a fishing vessel that was returning from a three-hour snorkeling tour when he suddenly began attacking the boat’s 62-year-old captain with a fillet knife.
Other shocked passengers onboard had to intervene and restrain Nissen before police could arrive. Officers responded to Honokōhau Harbor on the Big Island at 3.21pm as the boat docked.
Police did not release the identity of the victim, but sources with the boat company, Hawaii Nautical, identified him as Stanley Lurbiecki to Hawaii News Now.
Lurbiecki was described as a boating industry veteran. Police said he suffered a stab wound to the lower abdomen and knife cuts on his head and hands.
The sources told Hawaii News Now that the boat captain is recovering in stable condition at Kona Community Hospital.
Mark Towill, owner and president of Hawaii Nautical, told the outlet: ‘Stan is stable. He’s recovering, and he’s 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.’
Avery Nissen, 21, was arrested and charged with attempted murder after he allegedly began stabbing a boat captain while on the way back from a boating tour
Nissen’s victim was identified as Stanley Lurbiecki by sources with the boat company, Hawaii Nautical. Lurbiecki was described as a boating industry veteran and a ‘fighter’
‘I’ve never heard of anything like this happening in this industry before, and [I’m] just really grateful to all of our team for the way that they reacted – the professionalism that was demonstrated,’ Towill added.
On Friday, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney modified and extended Nissen’s charges to second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault.
He is being held on a $1.57 million bond. Nissen’s first court appearance is scheduled for Monday, where he will be read his charges and have the opportunity to enter a plea.
Police said the motive for the attack is unknown and have not shared any theories.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Hawaii Police Department for comment and additional details.
According to Hawaii law, second-degree attempted murder is a Class A felony punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Other passengers had to restrain Nissen before police arrived at Honokōhau Harbor (pictured) on the Big Island after the boat docked
The stabbing took place at sea off the coast of Hawaii’s southernmost and largest island, known as the Big Island or Island of Hawaii. The boat had been on a three-hour snorkeling tour
First-degree assault is a Class B felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. The charge is applied when the victim is older than 60, or if the suspect intentionally caused ‘serious bodily injury.’ Both allegedly apply to Nissen.
Second-degree assault is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Overland Park, where Nissen is from, is one of the richest areas of Kansas. Three zip codes in the suburb made it into the Forbes ‘Top 5 Most Expensive ZIP Codes In Kansas’ list.
The enormous bond Nissen was given may have been to ensure he does not get bailed out and stays in Hawaii to be tried in the state.
