Puna Shooting Victim Identified

The victim in Monday’s fatal shooting in the Kapoho Beach Lots subdivision has been identified as 56-year-old Bryan Lynn Thomas of Kapoho.

According to a medical examiner, Thomas died as result of gunshot wounds to his abdomen and chest.

The investigation into the incident continues, as 72-year-old Richard R. Edwards, also of Kapoho, remains in custody.

Edwards was arrested at the scene on suspicion of second-degree murder. Multiple media sources report that he was the individual who called 9-1-1 to report the shooting, and that the pair had been in a prior conflict.

The shooting took place a little after 5 p.m. on Monday.

Anyone with information about the shooting should call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Dean Uyetake directly by calling 961-2379, or e-mailing dean.uyetake@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer to maintain anonymity can call the Big Island Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300.