Mother of Waikiki Attacker Appeals for Mental Health Intervention After Violent Assault on Police Officer

Braxton Rabago’s mother describes his lifelong mental health struggles after he was charged with the attempted murder of a Waikiki police officer.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 4:20 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Hawaii News Now

A Violent Escalation in Honolulu

Braxton Rabago, 33, faces a charge of attempted murder after a series of violent confrontations in Waikiki that resulted in a police officer sustaining a slashed throat. Authorities allege that Rabago first assaulted a 34-year-old man before fleeing to Paoakalani Avenue, where he engaged in the near-fatal attack on the responding officer. The suspect entered a plea of not guilty during his initial court appearance and is currently being held on $500,000 bail as investigators piece together the events leading up to the assault.

A Lifetime of Mental Health Struggles

The suspect’s mother, Susan Kocinski, provided testimony from Minnesota regarding her son’s history of instability and behavioral issues. Kocinski stated that her son has been violent and reckless since early childhood and expressed her belief that he suffers from schizophrenia rather than common behavioral disorders. According to his mother, Rabago’s life has been marked by a pattern of running away from home, academic failure, and involvement with heavy narcotics, which she believes exacerbated his underlying psychiatric condition.

Prior Criminal History and Incarceration

This is not the first time Rabago has been involved in a stabbing incident; he previously served a seven-year prison sentence for a similar attack in 2015. His mother noted that her son appeared to thrive within the structured environment of the correctional system, as it restricted his access to drugs and mandated a consistent routine. She expressed a sense of relief that he is back in custody, fearing that his lack of access to proper mental health facilities in the community left him vulnerable to the erratic behavior that led to the Waikiki attacks.