HPD Identifies Kealakekua Murder Victim

The Hawai‘i Island Police Department has identified a Big Island murder victim.

Police said that the victim in Saturday’s shooting in Kealakekua was 61-year-old Frank Damiano of Kailua-Kona. An autopsy is being scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. 

On Aug. 21, at about 4:45 p.m., police responded to a residence on Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua after receiving a report of a shooting. Officers determined that the victim, who was an acquaintance of 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.

Carpenter was 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, pending further investigation. Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section are continuing the investigation.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, call Detective Tyler Prokopec of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 326-4646 ext. 224 or email at tyler.prokopec@hawaiicounty.gov.