Morgan “Max” Victor’s family describe him as “the life of the party.”
Born in Hilo and raised in Kailua-Kona, the 30-year-old Victor left the Big Island for Portland, Ore., a couple of years ago with his fiancée, Sabrauna Hedenberg. He’d earned a general contractor’s license and started a construction company, Royal Homes LLC.
The young man’s life was cut short by an assailant’s bullet in the early morning hours of May 4 in the apartment he shared with Hedenberg.
“There was a knock at the door and Max went to open it and he was shot. It was meant for Max, not random,” Hedenberg said. “I was sleeping in bed and woke up to gunshots, saw him lying on the ground and called 911, screaming at him not to leave me.
“I did everything I could to save him. He was the love of my life. It was love at first sight. I am glad I got to be with him until his last breath.”
A 33-year-old man, Nathaniel Freeman, is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm, unlawful use of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm for allegedly shooting Victor.
According to The Oregonian newspaper in Portland, Freeman previously was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in California for the fatal shooting in May 2008 of a Berkeley youth sports coach during a dispute near the University of California campus.
Victor’s mother, Tamara Charles, said Victor didn’t know Freeman, but added there had been “an altercation between them” earlier in the evening. She said her son had asked Freeman “to leave the area, because the man was causing trouble.”
“And then the man came back, shot his way into the apartment, and shot my son in the stomach,” Charles said.
Asked to describe her son, Charles replied, “Everybody wanted to hug him. And he was a great protector. He loved animals. His dog was like his child. His fiancée was his partner, in every way. His neighbors loved him.”
Victor’s older sister, Keala Kahawai, described her brother as “very happy.”
“Everybody wanted to be around him, life of the party, infectious laughter and smile,” Kahawai said. “Everywhere he went, he made friends. He was fun, a person who makes a family gathering the best, every time.”
“He had so much promise. He really did,” added Victor’s half-brother, kumu hula and fashion designer Kenneth “Aloha” Victor. “He was full of energy. He had the biggest smile and the biggest heart. You know, he would give you the shirt off his back if he could. He lit up a room. He was the jokester and the smiley guy.
“Our father passed away earlier this year, a few months back, and he came back home. And that’s when we learned about all the things he was doing, how great he was doing. And we were just so excited for him.”
This time, Max Victor’s body has been returned to Hawaii Island for his own services, which will be held this Saturday at Old Kona Airport’s Makaeo Pavilion. Visitation is 10-11 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. The family requests casual or aloha attire and flowers and lei are welcome. A celebration of his life will follow from 4-9 p.m.
Max Victor’s Hawaiian name, Kahoaokekai means “friend of the sea.” Fittingly, his ashes will be scattered at Magic Sands Beach Park in Kailua-Kona, where he met Hedenberg. A GoFundMe page titled ” Morgan Maximillion Kahoa Okekai Victor” has been set up to pay for arrangements in both Hawaii and Oregon. As of Tuesday, a little more than $18,500 had been raised of a $30,000 goal.
The tragic end to Max Victor’s promising life has left his family “crushed, heartbroken and empty,” Kahawai said.
“We had our whole future stolen from us. Now, I’ll never get to have nieces and nephews from him,” she said. “Our full brother, Christian, is having a hard time with expressing his feelings. They were best friends, connected at the hip for almost all of their lives.
“This is the last thing Christian shared on his Instagram page for Max’s birthday: ‘I love you my Brada… Stay the most amazingest.’”
According to Charles, Hedenberg “wakes up every morning wishing she could go back in time.”
“Even the dog is sad. You should see her. She’s looking for him, everywhere,” Charles added.
“I would say love your family while you can. Because you never know.”
Survivors will be listed in a formal obituary later this week.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.