UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (5/24/10)

During an autopsy conducted Monday (May 24), the victim of a fatal gunshot wound inflicted Friday (May 21) was identified as 37-year-old Raleigh Freitas of Kamuela.

The investigation and autopsy determined that Freitas died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The case will be reclassified from a coroner’s inquest to a suicide.

Police had been seeking Freitas in connection with an armed robbery at a pharmacy on Kawaihae Road earlier Friday. Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section are continuing the investigation into the robbery.

UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (5/23/10)

Big Island police are warning the public to beware of potentially dangerous prescription drugs that were stolen in a pharmacy robbery and have not been legally dispensed.

South Kohala patrol units were dispatched to a pharmacy on Kawaihae Road on Friday (May 21) in response to a reported robbery involving a man armed with a knife. The man reportedly entered the pharmacy and demanded Fentynyl and Oxycontin. After the pharmacist told him that the establishment did not carry those drugs, the suspect opened a drawer and removed numerous controlled substances.

He fled on foot in the direction of the Nature Park and Carter Professional Center. He had a cloth covering his nose and mouth and was wearing a hooded shirt, camouflage pants, slippers and latex gloves.

Police investigation led to the name of a suspect. Officers arrested the suspect’s wife, 34-year-old Rochelle Freitas of Kamuela, who had been inside the pharmacy attempting to fill a prescription minutes before the robbery.

While officers were searching for her husband, police received a 911 call reporting a man with a gunshot wound at a residence later determined to be the Freitas home. Responding officers found the victim dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday (May 24) to determine the man’s identity and the exact cause of his death.

Rochelle Freitas has been released while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

MEDIA RELEASE (5/21/10)

South Kohala patrol units were dispatched to the Longs Drugs Pharmacy on Kawaihae Road Friday (May 21) in response to a reported robbery involving a man armed with a knife. The man reportedly entered the pharmacy and demanded Fentanyl and Oxycontin. The pharmacist on duty informed him that they do not carry any Fentanyl or Oxycontin at which point the suspect opened a drawer and removed the contents. The amount of items removed is undetermined at this time.

The suspect exited the pharmacy and ran in the direction of the Nature Park and Carter Professional Center. He had a cloth covering over his nose and mouth area and was wearing a sport shirt with hood, oversized OD green trousers, slippers and latex gloves. The suspect left the scene carrying a large rubbish can, which he later discarded.

The Area II Criminal Investigation Section was notified and responded to take over further investigation into this incident.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.