A fatal shooting early Monday evening in lower Puna might have been the deadly result of a love triangle. ADVERTISING A fatal shooting early Monday evening in lower Puna might have been the deadly result of a love triangle. Sources,
A fatal shooting early Monday evening in lower Puna might have been the deadly result of a love triangle.
Sources, who asked not to be named, identified the victim as 57-year-old Bryan Thomas, a neighbor of the alleged shooter, Richard “Rick” R. Edwards, in the gated Kapoho Beach Lots subdivision. They said the 72-year-old Edwards was romantically involved with Thomas’ former girlfriend.
Capt. Robert Wagner of the Hilo Criminal Investigation Division said Tuesday police were withholding the identity of the victim pending notification of mainland relatives.
According to media reports, Thomas went to Edwards’ home on Kumukahi Road to confront Edwards with a baseball bat, and fell victim to a 12-gauge shotgun blast. Wagner declined to confirm some of the details in those reports.
“The victim did go over to the suspect’s house,” he said. “We don’t know exactly what happened. But we do know he went over to the suspect’s house and he did seem to have an issue with the suspect when he went over there.”
Edwards reportedly called 911 at 5:14 p.m. Monday to inform police of the shooting. Thomas was reportedly found unresponsive, face down in the driveway.
Edwards was arrested Monday night on suspicion of second-degree murder and was being held pending further investigation by detectives. He had not been charged as of late Tuesday afternoon.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379 or dean.uyetake@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
