Hawaii County police charged a 55-year-old Hilo man with murder this afternoon in a shooting in the Hilo Bayfront area in December.

Mark A. Whyne, who has no permanent address, is charged with second-degree murder and five firearms charges.

Whyne is being held without bail, pending his initial court appearance Friday.

On Dec. 29 at 8:47 p.m., police received calls about gunshots heard near Mooheau Park in Hilo. Responding officers discovered the victim, identified as Faatetai Fiu of Hilo, with gunshot wounds.

The suspect was already in police custody on three firearms-related offenses before his arrest on the new charges.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case or anyone who may have witnessed this shooting contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or ralmeida@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona 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.