Gun-toting man who shot at lava evacuee to face federal firearm charges

PUNA, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) - The gun-toting man accused of shooting at a lava evacuee during a heated confrontation that was captured on video on Tuesday will face federal firearms charges, according to court documents filed Friday.

John Hubbard, 61, made his initial appearance in court on Thursday. The Puna man already stands charged with two counts of first-degree reckless endangering, five counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, one count of first-degree robbery and several other firearms offenses.

Additionally, according to a federal criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu, Hubbard will also face a single Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition charge. Federal agents are expected to take Hubbard into custody before a court appearance in Honolulu some time next week.

Video of Hubbard's confrontation with a man in Leilani Estates went viral this week, showing him allegedly shooting at a man and telling him to, "Get out of here," referencing the subdivision.

The victim can be heard responding: "I live here! I live here!"

Police said the incident happened near the intersection of Kahukai and Makamae streets within Leilani Estates.

The victim, a 32-year-old resident of the subdivision, told officers that the suspect allegedly assaulted him while he and a group of his friends were looking at the area where his home used to stand before it was claimed by lava.

After the alleged assault, the suspect pointed a gun at the victim and demanded that they leave the area.

The confrontation escalated when Hubbard allegedly fired several shots in the victim's direction. No one was injured by the gunfire.

The federal court documents show that Hubbard was convicted in 1976 for a drug crime.

Then in 1986, was convicted for Felon in Possession of a weapon in the state of Oregon.

Multiple sources say the gun seen in the cell phone video was not recovered but police did recover boxes of ammunition.

Listed in the federal document, rounds of .38 special caliber ammunition and multiple boxes of 30-06 caliber rounds.

During a search of the pickup truck, police reported also finding what's believed to be marijuana.  Hubbard does have a current medical marijuana permit.

His preliminary hearing was moved to Monday.

The initial appearance for the federal charge has not been added to the calendar yet.

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