MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police have identified the victim of a fatal stabbing in Hilo on Tuesday (January 20) as 43-year-old Brian Whetten, who had no permanent address.

Whetten was was found injured in a drug store parking lot off KÄ«lauea Avenue shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday. Police learned he had been confronted by two men while in the grassy area between a business off KÄ«lauea Avenue and the mauka soccer fields off Kamehameha Avenue.

After being stabbed, he managed to walk to the parking lot. He died later at Hilo Medical Center. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday to determine the exact cause of death.

Detectives continue to follow up on leads and ask anyone with any information about the incident to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Clarence Davies at 961-2384 or cdavies@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Norbert Serrao Jr. at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 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. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.