Former Hawaii Police Department Chief Paul Ferreira — who retired at the end of the work day Wednesday — called the apparent firearms accident Sunday that left a 12-year-old Boy Scout dead “a very tragic incident.”
Police on Wednesday identified the victim as Manuel “Manny” Carvalho of Hilo. An autopsy performed Tuesday confirmed that the child died of a single gunshot wound.
“It’s still being investigated,” Ferreira said. “I feel very much for the families that are involved, for all of the families that were there — not only the family of the victim, but the families of the Boy Scouts that were there that are going to be impacted by what they saw or what happened there.”
Carvalho’s lifeless body was found by responding Hamakua patrol officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel shortly before 2:30 p.m. near the rifle range of Camp Honokaia near Honokaa, police said.
Due to the extent of his injury, the boy wasn’t transported to the hospital by fire rescue personnel. His body was later taken to Hilo Medical Center, where the official pronouncement of death was made at 7:55 p.m. Sunday.
In an official statement, the Boy Scouts of America said Carvalho’s death was “due to a reportedly accidental discharge of a firearm while involved in a Troop activity at Camp Honokaia.”
The statement said the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America “is fully investigating” with the coroner’s inquest conducted by HPD.
“The Boy Scouts of America extends its sincere condolences to the family of the victim, Troop members and the Aloha Council,” the statement said.
A source who requested anonymity said the victim was a member of Boy Scout Troop 19 in Hilo, which is chartered by the Waiakea Lions Club and supported by the United Community Church of Hilo.
Detectives continue to investigate, and police are conducting “extensive interviews with all children and adults present” at the Boy Scout camp, according to a police statement
Police said do not suspect foul play in the child’s death.
Police are asking for anyone with information on this incident, or who may have not yet been interviewed by police, to contact the police department’s nonemergency number at 935-3311, or Detective Jeremy Kubojiri at 961-2378 or email him at Jeremy.Kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
“It’s an unfortunate incident, a very tragic incident, and it speaks volumes as to what we ask the community to do in being responsible with firearms — especially loaded firearms, regardless of what the setting is,” Ferreira said.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
