02-05-16 Officer involved shooting

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Assistant Chief Henry Tavares
Area I Operations Bureau
Phone: 961-2346
Report No. C16003707

 

 

 

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred just after midnight at a shopping center located off of Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo. The immediate area where the shooting occurred remains closed at this time.

On February 5, 2016, at approximately 12:20 a.m., police were investigating a possible sighting of a sought-after fugitive who was known to be armed and dangerous. Upon conducting checks of the area, officers located the suspect driving a vehicle within the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant. Officers commanded the suspect to exit the vehicle, but he instead drove over barriers within the drive-thru and accelerated his vehicle and drove directly at an officer and subsequently rammed into two police vehicles.

During this event, officers discharged their firearms at the vehicle accelerating towards the officer, which resulted in fatally injuring the driver; a front seat female passenger was also injured during this incident. The passenger was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of injuries, and presently is in critical condition. No one else was injured in this incident.

The identity of the suspect is being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin.

The officers who fired their weapons have 20, 15, and 6 years of experience with the Hawaiʻi Police Department.

As is standard practice in any police involved shooting, the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Detective Grant Todd at (808) 961-2385, or Detective Dean Uyetake at (808) 961-2379.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number 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.


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  • Keep your community safe through Crime Stoppers

    Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

    The Crime Stoppers TV Program is available on-demand from Nā Leo TV.