The Family Court yesterday cleared the way for a teenage suspect to be charged as an adult in a Waikiki assault that left a man in a care home with a severe brain injury.

Corey Childs was charged yesterday with first-degree assault stemming from the one-punch knockout of Preston Ingram on July 26 outside the Food Pantry at Kuhio Avenue and Wailina Street.

Childs is accused of hitting Ingram in the face with brass knuckles, causing him to fall backward and hit his head on the sidewalk. Ingram was knocked unconscious.

Childs was 17 at the time. He turned 18 in September.

A police affidavit filed in court states that Ingram suffered a brain injury that put him at "substantial risk of death" and the prognosis was for "permanent cognitive impairment."

Ingram is at a Mainland care home.

According to police Detective Dan Nakasato's affidavit, the confrontation began with a "What the ---- are you looking at?" remark from Childs to a group of people, followed by Ingram's "What do you mean what are we looking at?" response.

Childs was also charged with two unrelated auto thefts from last August. His bail totals $35,000.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.