MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police have released the man who was arrested for a fatal shooting Monday (March 7) in the Kapoho Beach Lots subdivision.

Seventy-two-year-old Richard R. Edwards of Kapoho was arrested at the scene on suspicion of second-degree murder and was being held at the Hilo police cellblock. After conferring with prosecutors, detectives released him at 3:50 p.m. Wednesday (March 9) pending further investigation.

The medical examiner determined that the victim, 56-year-old Bryan Lynn Thomas of Kapoho, died of gunshot wounds to the abdomen and chest.

Police ask anyone with any information about the shooting, which occurred shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379 or dean.uyetake@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.