HILO — A 57-year-old Volcano man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from an alleged shooting incident June 13 in Volcano.
Acting Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto ordered Raymond Frank Black to appear for trial at 9 a.m. Nov. 6 before Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura. Black is charged with illegally carrying a handgun, two counts each of kidnapping and first-degree terroristic threatening, and three counts of reckless endangering.
Black, who’s free on $175,000 bail, was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday in Hilo District Court on the charges, but a Hilo grand jury indicted him June 28, rendering the preliminary hearing unnecessary and moving the case to circuit court.
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Mead estimated trial would take two weeks.
According to court documents filed by police, two men, ages 29 and 27, were walking east on Pearl Avenue near 10th Street in Volcano at about 1:55 p.m. June 13 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 and encountered the Toyota again, this time parked in the middle of the road. They said Black got out of the car, pointed the pistol at them again, and said, “Get the f—- on the ground. I’m going to kill you.” The men told police 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 errant shot and said, “Get on the f——— ground. I’m going to kill you. Don’t move.” The second man then dropped to the ground.
Any motive for the alleged confrontation hasn’t been disclosed. 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 handgun 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.