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Paul Cameron, left, and Sebastian Mahkwan allegedly conspired to commit an acid attack on a random person in Hawaii. Cameron is accused of carrying out a similar attack last year and wanted Mahkwan to do another attack to ‘cast doubt’ on his guilt. (Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney)
While in jail for allegedly throwing acid on his ex-girlfriend, a 21-year-old Hawaii man convinced his cellmate to carry out a similar attack on a random person so it would “cast doubt” on his guilt, cops say.
The first attack occurred on April 7, 2023, when a woman outside a Honolulu fitness center reported a man came up to her and threw a liquid on her that caused burns on her face, shoulder, back and legs. Two weeks later, Honolulu police arrested 21-year-old Paul Cameron, the ex-boyfriend of the victim, on attempted murder charges.
While in the Oahu Community Correction Center, Cameron befriended a fellow inmate named Sebastian Mahkwan, who was awaiting trial on unrelated drug and assault charges, said Honolulu police Lt. Deena Thoemmes at a press conference Tuesday. An indictment says Cameron identified Mahkwan as his boyfriend. Police intercepted a series of phone calls in which Cameron arranged to pay Mahkwan’s bond.
Mahkwan bonded out of jail on Jan. 22. Shortly after being bonded out Mahkwan said he had a “job to do” at the Ala Moana shopping mall. Between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Jan. 23, Mahkwan allegedly threw a liquid chemical that caused severe chemical burns to Danying Zhang’s face and body outside the Planet Fitness, the indictment said.
Thoemmes said the perpetrator used sulfuric acid in both attacks. Cops took Mahkwan into custody a short time later. Because of the similarities between the attacks, Thoemmes said cops started investigating any connections to the Mahkwan and Cameron. They discovered the two men were in the same module together in jail.
According to the indictment, corrections officers later found an envelope with Cameron’s name on it containing detailed instructions about how to obtain acid and what to tell cops about the original attack last year. Thoemmes said a handwriting expert confirmed Cameron wrote the instructions. Investigators believe Cameron orchestrated the second attack to “cast doubt” that he actually did the first, Thoemmes said.
A grand jury indicted Cameron and Mahkwan on Tuesday on assault, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit attempted murder charges.
“The indictment details a diabolical plot that resulted in a complete stranger — an innocent woman — being gravely wounded,” Honolulu prosecutor Steve Alm said in a statement.
Zhang was a popular Chinese language teacher at a Maryknoll School. One parent said his daughter is asking what happened to her teacher, who remains in critical condition.
“We just told her that, you know, she’s sick so she’s staying in the hospital right now,” Tony Shi said an interview with Hawaii News Now. “So she couldn’t come to school.”
Cameron’s ex-girlfriend, who was the victim of his first alleged attack, said the plan shows his true character.
“I’m just hoping the government and people see him for his true self and who he really is because he’s a monster,” she told the outlet. “He’s a danger to the community.”
