A 60-year-old Puna man who discharged a firearm numerous times and threatened police with a gun was shot and killed Wednesday (December 16) following a standoff of nearly 10 hours.

Puna patrol officers initially responded to a 2:52 a.m. report of shots being fired from within a home in the Kehena Beach Estates subdivision in lower Puna. As they approached the house, responding officers confirmed numerous additional shots being fired. They secured the perimeter of the property.

The Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT) was notified at 4 a.m. and took over the scene at 6:51 a.m.

Shortly after 8 a.m., Highway 137 was closed between the 19- and 20-mile markers and all neighbors in the vicinity were evacuated.

As part of the SRT response, the Crisis Negotiations Team began negotiating with the man, who had barricaded himself inside the house.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the barricaded man exited the house. A struggle ensued, at which point the man was shot. Specific details regarding the incident are still being investigated.

Emergency response personnel at the scene treated the man for injuries sustained in the shooting. He died a short time later. Police are withholding the man’s name pending notification of his family.

Chief Harry Kubojiri expressed that although this is an unfortunate incident, he is grateful that no other members of the neighborhood or emergency responders were seriously injured.

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 Internal Affairs Division will conduct an administrative investigation.