HPD Arrests Murder Suspect in Puna

Hawai´i County police have arrested a suspect in a shooting that occurred on Monday, April 26 on the Big Island.

A 32-year-old Puna man was taken into custody without incident following a shooting that left a 59-year-old Volcano man dead, according to a Hawai´i Police Department report.

On Monday, at about 12:37 p.m., police responded to a residence on Nau Nani Road in Volcano after receiving a report of a shooting victim. It was also reported that the suspect was seen walking from the scene toward a nearby residence.

The department’s Special Response Team tactical unit responded and, using the armored vehicle, confirmed the suspect’s presence within the residence. Negotiators initiated contact with the suspect, who initially refused to exit the residence. At 3:15 p.m., the suspect exited the residence and was taken into custody.

Daris Paul Pacheco of Volcano is being held in the Hilo police cellblock for suspicion of second-degree murder while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continue the investigation.

Detectives are withholding the identity of the victim pending confirmation of his identification and notification of the next of kin.

The nearby residents were evacuated for safety concerns. However, the evacuation was lifted after the suspect was arrested and the scene was rendered safe. There were no other injuries reported during the shooting incident.

Detectives ask that anyone with information regarding this incident call Detective Casey Cabral of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2384 or send an email to casey.cabral@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.