A 38-year-old Puna man pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony for a fatal shooting three years ago in Mountain View.
Ryan Frederick Davis originally was charged with second-degree murder for the March 17, 2019, shooting death of 38-year-old Joshua John Santos in the driveway of a Plumeria Street home in Fern Acres subdivision.
In return for his guilty pleas, prosecutors reduced the murder charge and dropped charges of first-degree terroristic threatening and possession of unregistered firearms.
Davis, who has been in custody since his arrest shortly after the shooting, faces a potential 20-year prison sentence when sentenced Aug. 4 by Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto.
According to court documents filed by police, Davis’ girlfriend told police she and Davis were having a late dinner when Santos came to their home looking for his girlfriend, who is Davis’ girlfriend’s sister. The woman told police that when she informed Santos her sister wasn’t home, Santos got angry and started yelling and swearing.
The woman reportedly told police Davis went outside with a rifle, whereupon Santos accused Davis of having an affair with Santos’ girlfriend. The woman said Santos attempted to punch her, but ended up striking Davis in the face instead.
Davis then fired a shot into the air, the woman stated, scaring her and causing her to run inside, according to documents. While inside, she heard two more shots and saw Santos, who was running down the driveway, collapse at the front of the property.
Davis told a police detective that after he fired the warning shot with the rifle, Santos came toward him, and Davis picked up a .22 caliber handgun and shot Santos from a distance of about five feet, documents state.
Santos then said he was sorry and turned and ran down the driveway, Davis allegedly told the detective.
Davis said he fired two more shots from the handgun, documents state, and Santos fell to the driveway as the firearm jammed. Davis allegedly told the detective, “He attacked my wife. She’s pregnant. I had to kill him.”
Davis remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $310,000 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
