HILO — A 45-year-old Mountain View man apparently shot to death Saturday afternoon along a Puna subdivision roadside had a troubled history, according to court records.
Denton Edmund Lee Freitas had a criminal record dating back to 1997, when he was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation for first-degree terroristic threatening, a Class C felony. He was also convicted of misdemeanor assault in 2002, shoplifting in 2017, was sentenced to 180 days for domestic abuse in 2002 and 2015, and was incarcerated as recently as last month for violating his probation for domestic abuse and violating a temporary restraining order.
He also had numerous convictions for contempt of court, twice garnering 90-day jail sentences.
Records also show a pending Dec. 5 court date for Freitas, now moot, on the probation violations.
Freitas’ body was found, face down, with spent bullet casings nearby, on the side of Anthurium Street in Fern Acres, by police officers responding to a 1:45 p.m. report of multiple gunshots in the area.
His death has been classified as a murder, and Hilo Criminal Investigation Section detectives are investigating.
Asked about leads, Capt. Randall Medeiros, the CIS commander replied, “We’re working on a few things.” He added it’s too early in the investigation to speculate on a motive for the shooting.
Medeiros said an autopsy on Freitas’ body is scheduled for today.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Wendall Carter at 961-2383 or Wendall.carter@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.