Hawai‘i Island police have identified the victim of a recent fatal shooting in Kealakekua as 61-year-old Frank Damiano of Kailua-Kona. An autopsy is being scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

After receiving a report of a shooting on Saturday, August 21, 2021, officers responded to a residence on Mamalahoa Highway and determined that the victim, who was an acquaintance of the suspect, 79-year-old Donald Carpenter of Kealakekua, had entered Carpenter’s residence when an argument ensued and the victim was shot. Carpenter turned over the firearm involved to detectives at the scene.  He was then arrested at the scene and taken to the Kealakehe Police Station on suspicion of second-degree murder.

After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Carpenter was released on Sunday, August 22, pending investigation. Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section are continuing the investigation.

The police are asking anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Tyler Prokopec of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646 ext. 224 or via email at tyler.prokopec@hawaiicounty.gov.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Police Department