Big Island prosecutors Wednesday night charged a 42-year-old Kona man with killing a Hilo man whose body was found in a sport utility vehicle.

Valentine Kapiolani Gonsalves Jr. was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree reckless endangering, possession of a loaded firearm, and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony. His bail was set at $507,000.

The victim has been identified Keith Nakoa Gonsalves, 25, of Hilo. An autopsy conducted Wednesday determined that he died from a gunshot would to the neck.

On Monday night, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to an 11:56 p.m. report of a shooting in the upper Waiākea Uka area of Hilo.

A 47-year-old Hilo man reported that he had been threatened during a verbal confrontation by a man in a car outside his house on Alaloa Road. Witnesses reported that a shot was fired and that the vehicle then left the area.

Shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday, police received information that led them to a silver Honda sport utility vehicle parked against the flow of traffic on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway near the 27-mile marker.

Police discovered Gonsalves’ body in the SUV.

Police continue to ask any motorists who may have seen the silver Honda SUV parked along the highway, may have seen a man hitchhiking toward the Kona direction, or may have picked up a hitchhiker and taken him to Kona to contact either Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or robert.almeida@hawaiicounty.gov or Detective Grant Todd at 961-2385 grant.todd@hawaiicounty.gov.