Police open murder investigation after Hilo assault victim dies
A Hilo man involved in a confrontation on Halloween died Wednesday.
Alfred Vea, 49, of Hilo was pronounced dead at The Queen’s Medical Center at 10:34 a.m. Wednesday. An autopsy will be performed today to determine the exact cause of death, Hawaii island police said.
The case is now being investigated as second-degree murder, police said.
Police received a call at 11:30 p.m. Saturday that Vea was involved in a confrontation and was unconscious in a parking lot on the 100 block of Hema Street. Witnesses reported that the other man had left the area.
Vea was taken to Hilo Medical Center with a head injury and later transferred to Queen’s.
A 31-year-old Mountain View man turned himself in to police Tuesday morning and remains in custody, but has not be charged as the investigation continues, police said.