Kona man charged with fatal shooting of nephew

Police have charged a 42-year-old Kona man with murder for allegedly shooting his nephew to death Monday night in Hilo.

At 11 p.m. Wednesday, Valentine Kapiolani Gonsalves Jr. was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree reckless endangering, possession of a loaded firearm and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.

His bail was set at $507,000 and he is scheduled to make his initial court appearance today.

The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Keith Nakoa Gonsalves of Hilo. An autopsy conducted Wednesday determined that he died from a gunshot would to the neck.

The case began Monday night when officers responded to an 11:56 p.m. report of a shooting in the upper Waiakea Uka area of Hilo. a Naea Lindsey, a 47-year-old Hilo man, reported that he had been threatened during a verbal confrontation by a man in a car outside his house on Alaloa Road.

Witnesses reported that a shot was fired and that the vehicle then left the area. Officers were unable to locate a shooting victim, and Lindsey later told a Honolulu TV news outlet he thinks the bullet was intended for him.

On a tip, police early Tuesday morning found a silver Honda sports-utility vehicle parked against the flow of traffic near the 27-mile marker of the new Saddle Road, aka Daniel K. Inouye Highway. Keith Gonsalves’ body was in the SUV.

Police continue to ask any motorists who may have seen the silver Honda SUV parked along the highway, may have seen a man hitchhiking toward Kona, or may have picked up a hitchhiker and taken him to Kona to contact either Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or robert.almeida@hawaiicounty.gov or Detective Grant Todd at 961-2385 grant.todd@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.