The quiet community of Aloha Estates in Puna, Hawaii, was shaken on the afternoon of April 26, 2021, by the fatal shooting of 59-year-old resident Jay Allen Freeman. Police were called to Freeman's home on Nau Nani Road around 1:00 PM after receiving reports of gunfire in the area. First responders found Freeman's body lying in the yard of his property.
The investigation quickly led police to a suspect residing nearby: 32-year-old Daris Paul Pacheco.
Pacheco was apprehended at his residence without incident shortly after officers arrived on the scene. While a motive has not been officially released, the close proximity of the suspect's residence to the victim's suggests the possibility of a neighbor dispute.
An autopsy conducted the following day confirmed that Freeman died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. The death was officially ruled a homicide, and Pacheco was subsequently charged with second-degree murder. In addition to the murder charge, Pacheco faces charges of first-degree terroristic threatening, burglary of a dwelling during an emergency period, and multiple firearm and ammunition offenses. He was also charged with drug offenses, suggesting that substance abuse may have played a role in the incident. Pacheco remains in custody with bail set at $411,000.
The Hawaii Police Department's Area I Criminal Investigation Section is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information relevant to the case to come forward. This tragic event has left the community grappling with the loss of one of their own and seeking answers about what led to such a senseless act of violence.
