Justina and Alex Lucero, musicians from Santa Cruz, California, had a terrifying experience on Hawaii's Haleakalā Volcano. While visiting Maui for work, they decided to explore the national park, but their trip took a horrifying turn when they were carjacked and hunted by armed individuals using a drone.
The couple was driving a silver Mustang rental car when they encountered a knocked-over "Road Closed" sign near the black sand beach at the end of the Road to Hana. Assuming it was safe to proceed, they were soon blocked by a truck. A masked man emerged, brandishing a gun and demanding their valuables and car keys.
"He jumps out and comes right at us with the gun and stops us in the middle of the street," Justina recounted.
After robbing them, the attacker forced the couple to walk away and then pursued them in their own car. As they fled into the wild, the attacker shouted threats and fired a shot, counting down menacingly.
As night fell, their situation worsened. Two more cars joined the chase, and the assailants used flashlights and a drone to search for them. Justina and Alex spent the night hiding, drinking from a waterfall, and enduring the cold. The next morning, they saw men on horseback with dogs but couldn't discern if they were friends or foes, so they continued to move.
Their ordeal finally ended when they found a park ranger's shelter. The police later identified the suspect as Christopher Helmer, a known criminal involved in multiple incidents. Helmer was arrested a week later on unrelated charges but was found with the couple's rented Mustang, linking him to their robbery.
Maui prosecutor Andrew Martin acknowledged the couple's ordeal, stating, "His victims have endured harrowing experiences, and we look forward to bringing him to justice." With Helmer in custody, Maui Police assured residents and visitors that he was no longer a threat to public safety.
