Victim Identified in Fatal Hilo Stabbing

The victim of a fatal stabbing that occurred in Hilo on Tuesday has been identified, according to the Hawai’i Police Department.

Police say that Brian Whetten, 43, was found in the parking lot of a drug store off of Kilauea Avenue before 4 p.m. with injuries caused by the stabbing.

Two men allegedly confronted Whetten in the grassy area between a separate Kilauea Avenue business and the mauka soccer fields near Kamehameha Avenue. The stabbing is believed to have happened in the same area.

Whetten, who has no permanent address, was pronounced dead that evening at Hilo Medical Center. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday to figure out the exact cause of his death.

Detectives are continuing to search for potential suspects and witnesses in the incident. Anyone with information should contact either Detective Clarence Davies at 961-2384 or Detective Norbert Serrao Jr. at 961-2383.

Anonymous information can be phoned in to the Crime Stoppers hotline. Successful leads could bring a reward of up to $1,000. The Crime Stoppers number is 961-8300.