Hearing set for man accused of killing Army combat vet in Puna
Video obtained by police from a murder suspect’s cellphone shows interaction between the alleged shooter and the victim, according to court documents filed by police.
The video, obtained via a search warrant executed on Bryant Guevarra’s iPhone, is date-stamped Saturday and was taken in the parking lot of the Hawaiian Paradise Park Activity Center, where the shooting occurred.
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The documents state that in the video, the victim, 41-year-old Jose Manuel Adame Romero of Keaau, is approaching Guevarra “as the sound of a gunshot is heard.”
Guevarra said, “Jose, get out of here,” after reportedly telling Adame Romero that “the cops going come get you on Monday.”
Adame Romero replied, “Call the cops, you shooting,” to which Guevarra reportedly responded, “That’s a warning shot.”
When Adame Romero apologized, Guevarra asked, “Why you harassing me?” according to the documents.
Police say Guevarra, 49, of Pahoa, called police dispatch to tell them he had shot an unknown intruder who had attacked him. Responding officers found Adame Romero unresponsive, lying supine in a pool of blood with a wound to the left side of his head.
Police recovered five spent 9mm Luger bullet casings at the scene, the documents state.
Officers also executed a search warrant on Guevarra’s red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and found a black FMK 9mm pistol registered to him, with one round chambered and an additional four rounds loaded into its magazine.
Guevarra, who has no prior felony convictions, asked for a lawyer after being read his Miranda rights, and no statement was taken.
He was charged Monday with second-degree murder, first-degree reckless endangering, use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, and illegally carrying a handgun and ammunition.
At Guevarra’s initial court appearance Tuesday, Deputy Public Defender Jennifer Robinson asked Hilo District Judge Jennifer Ng to free Guevarra on supervised release — a form of cashless bail — which Ng denied after an objection by Deputy Prosecutor Jefferson Malate.
Ng maintained Guevarra’s bail at $1.823 million and ordered him to return to court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.
According to social media, the victim, Adame Romero, was an Army combat veteran originally from El Paso, Texas, who was awarded the Purple Heart for a battle injury. Court documents state he has no prior felony convictions.
James Walters, a former Army logistics specialist, mourned his comrade-at-arms on Facebook, describing Adame Romero as a “brother.”
“He did multiple combat tours to be murdered at home after losing part of his skull to a (improvised explosive device) down range,” Walters posted. “It was a honor to have known you I hope the bastard that took you from us pays dearly.”
Retired soldier Lawton Allen said he “just can’t believe this” and that Adame Romero “will be missed.”
“Love ya bro, Rest easy,” Allen posted.
Ramon Santos also used the words “rest easy” while expressing his grief online.
”You rest easy now. I’m going to miss you. I thought we had more time,” Santos said.
Marisela Romero, Adame Romero’s sister who lives in San Antonio, called him “the best brother/son we could have had.”
“I hope in all our lives you will continue to be my brother and mom’s son. Your life was taken from us too soon. I don’t think I will ever recover from this loss,” Romero wrote.
Sonya-lei Mahiai, Adame Romero’s stepdaughter, has opened a GoFundMe page for her mother, Sherry Romero, titled “Help Us Bring Mom Home After Losing Her Husband.”
“He was a husband, a stepfather, a family man, and a proud Purple Heart veteran who served his country,” Mahiai wrote. “He was deeply loved by our family, and losing him so suddenly has left an emptiness that is difficult to put into words.
“My mom spent years by his side, caring for him and their home. She relied on him as her husband and primary source of financial support, and she is now suddenly having to figure out how to move forward without him.”
As of late Tuesday afternoon, $2,230 was raised out of a $10,000 goal.
Email John Burnett at john.burnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.