Suspect in Volcano Murder Case Officially Charged

A Big Island murder suspect is facing a slew of charges in the wake of the shooting death of one of his neighbors.

Hawai‘i Island police have charged 32-year-old Daris Paul Pacheco, of Volcano, with murder, terroristic threatening, burglary, and an array of drug and firearm-related offenses stemming from the incident in Aloha Estates on Monday afternoon, April 26, 2021.

Shortly before 1 p.m., Puna patrol officers responded to a residence on Nau Nani Road in Volcano after receiving a report of a male shooting victim. Upon arrival, police confirmed a deceased man lying on the ground in his yard.

He was later identified as 59-year-old Jay Allen Freeman, of Volcano.

After a brief search, with the assistance of the department’s Special Response Team, Pacheco was located at his nearby residence where he was taken into custody without further incident.

An autopsy was performed Tuesday morning and concluded Freeman died from a gunshot wound to the chest. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, after conferring with County Prosecutors, Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives charged Pacheco with the following offenses:

• Second-degree Murder
• Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Separate Felony
• Place to Keep Pistol or Revolvers
• Burglary of a Dwelling during an Emergency Period
• Four counts of Ownership or Possession (firearm) Prohibited
• Ownership or Possession (ammunition) prohibited
• Third-degree Promotion of a Dangerous Drug
• Prohibited Acts related to Drug Paraphernalia
• Third-degree Promotion of a Detrimental Drug
• First-degree Terroristic Threatening
• Place to Keep Unloaded Firearms other than Pistols and Revolvers

Pacheco remains in police custody in lieu of $411,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, which is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, April 29, in South Hilo District Court.

Police ask anyone who may have been in the area and witnessed this incident or has information to call the department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Casey Cabral at (808) 961-2381.