Two suspects arrested for alleged nighttime hunt near Oprah Winfrey’s Hawaii estate

Trigger warning: This article contains details of murder and violence that may be triggering for some readers.

In recent news, authorities in Maui have arrested two men suspected of illegal night hunting near Oprah Winfrey’s Hawaiian estate. The incident occurred just before midnight on June 21, 2024, according to a July 1, 2024 press release from the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE).

“This occurred near the intersection of Thompson Road and Kamaʻole Road in the Kula area of ​​Upcountry Maui,” the press release said. Thompson Road is a public road that runs through private property owned by the Oprah Winfrey Ranch. The two suspects are 19-year-olds Luke Allen and Ty Munoz. They were taken into custody at the Maui Police Department in Wailuku after officers observed them allegedly using a spotlight for hunting purposes.

What else was discovered during the investigation?

Allen and Munoz were found during a preliminary investigation with a loaded shotgun and a rifle in their vehicle. They were hunting without a proper license, had ammunition in the vehicle and were trespassing on private property at night.

Additionally, the rifle found on Allen was not registered. However, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has not disclosed which animals were allegedly hunted. Following the incident and the recent devastating wildfires on Maui, Oprah has offered a generous donation to the community.

In August 2023, the 70-year-old former talk show host helped other residents affected by the Hawaii wildfires. A spokesperson for Winfrey later told PEOPLE that Winfrey “went to Walmart and Costco to shop for the items and brought them back.”

What charges were brought against the two suspects?

Both teens were taken into custody for the same offenses. Munoz was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a loaded firearm (other than a pistol), hunting without a required license, trespassing on private property to hunt at night, and using artificial light while hunting.

Allen was charged with the same charges, plus the requirement to retain ammunition and to register (for unregistered .22 caliber semi-automatic rifles).

Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey and Dwane Johnson have announced the creation of the People’s Fund of Maui – with an initial donation of $10 million from each.

Disclaimer: If you need support or know someone who is struggling with any kind of abuse, please contact your nearest mental health professional, NGO or talk to someone about it. There are several helplines for such cases.