A 57-year-old Volcano man faces numerous charges stemming from a Tuesday afternoon incident in which he allegedly pointed a handgun at two men and later fired two shots in their general direction.
A 57-year-old Volcano man faces numerous charges stemming from a Tuesday afternoon incident in which he allegedly pointed a handgun at two men and later fired two shots in their general direction.
Raymond Frank Black was charged Thursday with two counts each of kidnapping, first-degree reckless endangering and illegally carrying a pistol, plus four counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.
According to court documents filed by police, at about 1:55 p.m. Tuesday, a 29-year-old man and his 27-year-old friend were walking east on Pearl Avenue near 10th Street in Volcano when Black allegedly drove westbound past them in a white Toyota sedan and pointed a dark pistol with a silver barrel in their direction.
The men reportedly told police that about 10 minutes later, they were walking up 11th Street. They said the Toyota was parked in the middle of the road and they saw Black get out of the car and stand by the driver’s side door. He allegedly pointed the pistol toward the men again, and said, “Get the f— on the ground. I’m going to kill you.” The men said Black then fired a shot that missed.
One of the men reportedly dropped to the ground after the shot was fired, according to documents. The other man told police he yelled, “Who the f— are you?” Black then allegedly fired another shot, which missed, and again said, “Get on the f—— ground. I’m going to kill you. Don’t move.” The second man dropped to the ground at that point.
Both men told police they feared for their lives, documents state.
At Black’s initial court appearance Thursday, his attorney, Mirtha Oliveros, asked Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas to grant her client supervised release or to reduce his bail. Freitas maintained Black’s bail at $175,000 and ordered him to appear for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Monday.
Black was freed on bail later Thursday afternoon. Court documents indicate Black has no prior felony convictions.
Kidnapping is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction. Illegally carrying a pistol is a Class B felony that carries a possible 10-year prison sentence. First-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree reckless endangering are Class C felonies that carry a potential five-year prison term.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.