Big Island police Tuesday charged a 37-year-old Pittsburgh man with manslaughter in connection with the death of a 30-year-old man following an altercation that took place Monday at a vacation rental in Kailua-Kona.
Benjamin Fleming was charged with one count manslaughter in connection with the 30-year-old man’s death, according to the Hawaii Police Department. Bail is set at $250,000 and he is slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday.
Fleming and another man, 31-year-old Alexander Germany-Wald, of Boston, were arrested early Monday after police and fire personnel responded to a vacation rental at the Kona Mansions Condominiums, in the 75-5800 block of Walua Road, in Kailua-Kona to a report of a man who was unresponsive and not breathing. Upon officers arrival, Hawaii Fire Department personnel were observed performing CPR on the victim, according to police. Attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful.
After further investigation, Germany-Wald was released from police custody Tuesday.
Police said that preliminary investigation determined that a verbal argument between the men at the rental escalated and turned physical.
Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen identified the victim as of 30 year-old, Abhishek Gupta also of Pittsburgh.
Manslaughter is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, upon conviction.