WAILUKU, Maui — A 38-year-old man was charged with manslaughter after telling Maui police he loaded the handgun that his girlfriend used to kill herself on Sunday.

Lilian S. Wilson, 29, was fatally shot just before 6:30 a.m. at her home on Kenolio Road, said acting Lt. Brian Kaya of the Maui Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division. Jack E. Neary did not report the shooting and was arrested at 2 p.m. Monday in Ma'alaea on a bench warrant in connection with an unrelated case involving carrying a deadly weapon, attempted methamphetamine trafficking and five other drug charges.

Neary told detectives that he put ammunition in the gun and was present when Wilson allegedly shot herself, Kaya said.

The case is being handled as a possible homicide. Kaya said police are still investigating the events leading up to the shooting, and he would not comment further.

Wilson's autopsy is scheduled for today.

Under Hawai'i law, the crime of manslaughter involves recklessly causing the death of another person or intentionally causing another person to commit suicide. It is a Class A felony punishable by 20 years in prison.

Neary was released after posting $25,000 bail for the drug and firearm case, and an additional $20,000 bail for the manslaughter charge.

Maui court records show that Wilson served a 90-day jail term in Texas in 2005 for drug and weapons violations, and that her probation was transferred to Hawai'i, where she has family.

Family friend Jamina Javier said Wilson's earlier problems stemmed from a troubled marriage, and when she moved back to Maui, Wilson's mother opened a small jewelry, gift and Hawaiian crafts business for her daughter. The business, Diversity Inc., started as a kiosk in Lahaina but moved to a location on South Kihei Road, said Javier, who helps run the store.

She said Wilson and Neary were estranged, but that the woman didn't appear to have been depressed.

Wilson hadn't been involved in the store for a while, she said. Javier described the woman as "a fun person" who liked doing temporary air-brush tattoos and body piercings.

"She was young and happy. She did her own thing," Javier said. "She was a kind, giving person who would help anybody, even a stranger. She was very giving and maybe too trusting."

Police are asking anyone with information on the circumstances leading up to Wilson's death to call Kaya at (808) 244-6449.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.