Aspiring bodybuilder Davina Licon, just 20 at the time, thought she was days away from a milestone—her very first bodybuilding competition.
Years of early mornings, strict diets, and endless hours in the gym had brought her to this point.
But on April 7, 2023, a routine trip to Planet Fitness in Mililani, Hawaii, turned into a nightmare that would leave her life forever altered.
After leaving the gym, Davina came face-to-face with a masked man who aimed a gun at her.
The assailant fired, narrowly missing her, before dousing her with a corrosive liquid that made her skin feel as though it was melting.
Terrified, she ran back inside, begged the front desk to call 911, and blacked out from shock and pain.
Months in the ICU and a Long Road to Recovery
Davina woke up a week later in the ICU, facing the terrifying reality that third-degree burns covered 30 percent of her body—including half her face, arms, hands, legs, and neck.
“I just remember waking up and it felt like half of my face had melted off,” she recalled.
Recovery was grueling. For months, she couldn’t eat or walk, and even the simplest tasks had to be relearned.
Over three months, she underwent five major surgeries, fought through repeated comas, and faced a long, painful rehabilitation process.
The Alleged Attacker and His Motive
Davina’s alleged attacker, Paul Cameron, was 21 when arrested in connection with the assault.
She says that Cameron, a friend of just five months, had been obsessively pursuing her romantically despite her clear boundaries.
“He was very obsessive, a compulsive liar, and he love bombed me,” she explained in an Instagram post.
Despite repeatedly telling him she only wanted to remain friends and focus on herself, she alleges that Cameron attacked her outside the 24-hour gym in a violent attempt to harm her physically.
“I almost died… he sent me to prison. I can’t ever just go back to normal,” she said.
Cameron faces charges including second-degree attempted murder and multiple felony firearm counts.
Licon says she will testify at his trial on January 28, hoping for a life sentence.
“I hope he gets life in prison because he sent me to prison,” she said.
Another Planned Attack While Cameron Was Behind Bars
Shockingly, while in custody at the Oahu Correctional Community Center, Cameron allegedly plotted another acid attack.
Between November 2023 and January 2024, he is accused of collaborating with Sebastian Mahkwan to target Danying Zhang, a 26-year-old Chinese exchange teacher.
On January 23, 2024, Mahkwan allegedly threw sulfuric acid at Zhang near the Ala Moana Center Planet Fitness, leaving her in critical condition.
The acid caused severe burns and damaged her lungs after being inhaled.
Both Cameron and Mahkwan face first- and second-degree attempted murder charges along with first-degree assault counts.
Licon Speaks Out About the Emotional Toll
The connection between the two attacks has left Davina reflecting on the danger posed by her alleged attacker.
“It really does speak to his character and what kind of person he is,” she told Island News.
“He’s willing to take someone else’s life just to save himself.”
Despite the trauma, Licon is determined to face the upcoming trial.
On Instagram, she admitted that revisiting these events will be emotionally difficult, but she is committed to seeking justice.
“I’m not only striving for justice for me but for the other survivor. God is on my side.
I owe it to him that I am here alive and healthy today,” she wrote.
Raising Awareness About Violence Against Women
Through her public statements, Davina hopes her story encourages broader conversations about attacks like hers and prevents future violence.
She emphasizes the importance of holding predators accountable and making sure society does not allow these crimes to go unpunished.
Her journey, from narrowly surviving a brutal attack to rebuilding her life, is a stark reminder of the strength and resilience required to confront unimaginable trauma.
While the legal battles are still ongoing, Licon’s determination to testify and speak out highlights her courage and commitment to justice—for herself and others.
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