HILO — A 42-year-old Kailua-Kona man accused of fatally shooting his 25-year-old nephew Monday night in Hilo was wheeled into court Thursday, his right hand and lower arm wrapped in an ACE bandage.
HILO — A 42-year-old Kailua-Kona man accused of fatally shooting his 25-year-old nephew Monday night in Hilo was wheeled into court Thursday, his right hand and lower arm wrapped in an ACE bandage.
Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas ordered Valentine Kapiolani Gonsalves Jr. to appear for a preliminary hearing today at 2 p.m. He’s charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possessing a loaded firearm. Freitas found probable cause didn’t exist for a reckless endangering charge.
No explanation was given for the wheelchair or the bandage.
Gonsalves is accused of shooting Keith Nakoa Gonsalves of Hilo in the neck while the younger Gonsalves was arguing with 47-year-old Naea Lindsey outside Lindsey’s Alaloa Road home.
The Gonsalveses and Lindsey’s daughter, Keolani Familar, arrived Monday at the Waiakea Uka residence in a silver Honda Pilot sport utility vehicle at about 11:45 p.m., according to court documents filed by police.
Lindsey reportedly told officers Valentine got into a verbal argument with Keith, who was driving. Lindsey told police he saw the vehicle move, and that a man in the back seat fired a single gunshot. He then saw Keith go limp.
Documents state Familar told police it was Valentine, the victim’s uncle, who fired the shot.
Lindsey told a Honolulu TV news outlet he thinks the bullet was intended for him instead of Keith.
“All I saw was a muzzle flash and, pow, I seen Keith’s head go back,” Lindsey told Hawaii News Now. Lindsey said he told others at the scene to get inside the house “’cause we wasn’t sure if (the shooter) was going to jump out and shoot everybody.”
Police responded to the scene, but the SUV was gone. Police found it Tuesday morning on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, abandoned and parked against the flow of traffic near mile marker 27. Keith’s body was inside.
Valentine was later picked up by officers — apparently in Kona, where police say he hitchhiked after abandoning the SUV — and was charged Wednesday night in Hilo.
According to court documents, he has no prior felony convictions.
Court records indicate Keith had 31 convictions, including felony convictions for unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle, driving a stolen vehicle, and promoting a dangerous drug, as well as a misdemeanor conviction for domestic abuse.
Valentine remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $505,000 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.