Hawai‘i Police Department
Hilo Patrol
Lieutenant Todd Pataray
Phone: (808) 961-2213
Report No.: 23-032735
Media Release
Hawaii Police Department (HPD) officers responded to Waiakea High School this morning after receiving a call about an active shooter situation that ultimately proved to be false.
On Monday, April 3, 2023, at 9:07 a.m., Central Dispatch received a call that there was a student on campus with a firearm who had shot multiple students.
As officers were responding to the scene, Waiakea High School administration was contacted and reported that there was no active shooter event that they were aware of, and it was determined that the call was a hoax.
Waiakea High School, Waiakea Intermediate, and Waiakea Elementary schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution due to the potential seriousness of the call.
Within minutes of Police Dispatch receiving the call, multiple resources responded to the scene. Once a systematic search of the school campus was completed and assurances that there were no threats, all schools and surrounding areas were opened up around 9:45 a.m.
The incident has been classified as a first-degree terroristic threatening case and is currently being investigated by the Area I Juvenile Aid Section.
Police ask anyone who may have any information relative to this investigation to contact the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Gavin Kagimoto at (808) 961-2276.
