Maui police arrested a 32-year-old man after a shopper was beaten with an aluminum bat in the parking lot of a Target store last Friday around 8 p.m., officials said. The victim, who asked not to be named, suffered head and hand injuries and was taken for treatment as officers began a search for the attacker.
Authorities identified the suspect as Gabriel Pangkee and said he faces counts that include assault and criminal property damage. The attack, witnessed by bystanders, unfolded as the victim, his girlfriend and her young daughter were leaving the store. The case has stirred concern among shoppers and employees at the high-traffic retail hub in Kahului, where investigators say they have gathered video and witness statements. A Target spokesperson said the company is assisting police. A first court appearance for Pangkee is set for Jan. 13, with additional charging decisions possible as detectives review reports and interview witnesses.
Witnesses described a sudden confrontation that escalated in seconds. The victim’s girlfriend, Kiana Bascon, said a shirtless man approached while yelling and holding a bat. She said she rushed to get her 5-year-old daughter to safety as the man closed in. An onlooker recalled seeing the assailant pull out “a white metal bat” and deliver “six or eight really hard blows” before running away. Patrol units arrived to find the victim bleeding and dazed. Officers secured the lot with crime-scene tape, photographed debris and collected statements from shaken shoppers. The store briefly restricted access near the main entrance as paramedics treated the victim and employees helped direct people to other exits.
Police said follow-up work over the next days led them to identify Pangkee as the person seen wielding the bat. Court records reviewed by authorities list nine prior convictions for the suspect, including a 2018 felony burglary. Detectives said they are examining whether any earlier incidents at the same shopping center involved the same person. The victim reported severe injuries to his hands from trying to block the blows and head trauma that doctors are evaluating for potential complications. His family told reporters he lacks health insurance and expects surgery. Investigators did not release a specific motive, noting that witnesses heard the attacker shouting accusations that were unrelated to the victim.
The Target store sits along a busy Kahului corridor near other big-box retailers and restaurants that draw steady evening crowds. Customers arriving during the response saw police SUVs parked near the main drive aisle and evidence markers on the pavement. Workers said the store’s cameras cover portions of the lot and usually capture license plates and foot traffic near the entrance. The attack rattled employees who had just finished helping families shop ahead of the weekend. Several said they had never seen an assault of this severity on the property. Nearby businesses shared exterior footage with detectives to help trace the suspect’s route from the lot.
Company officials emphasized that safety is a top priority and thanked first responders and staff who aided the injured man. Maui police said they are comparing witness accounts and video angles to produce a minute-by-minute timeline and to determine whether additional charges are warranted. Prosecutors will review the case file before Pangkee’s scheduled hearing on Jan. 13. Under Hawaii law, felony assault charges can hinge on the extent of a victim’s injuries and use of a dangerous instrument, factors detectives said are central to their reports. Police did not immediately say whether the bat was recovered.
Bascon said she wants the store and property managers to examine security measures in the lot after the sequence she described as “terrifying” for her child. Shoppers who stayed to help recounted shouting for towels and water as paramedics arrived. A bystander who asked not to be named said the speed of the assault left little time to respond. “It happened very fast,” the witness said, adding that several people followed at a distance as the assailant fled but lost sight of him near the edge of the property. By late evening, the lot had reopened, with a few cones blocking an area of stained pavement and a cluster of evidence tags near a cart corral.
As of Saturday, Maui police said the investigation is ongoing and that anyone with additional footage from the lot or nearby roadways will be contacted by detectives if needed. Officials did not identify the hospital treating the victim. Pangkee remained in custody pending his initial appearance on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Further updates are expected after prosecutors review the investigative reports and the court sets a charging schedule.
Author note: Last updated January 10, 2026.