Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting in Ocean View

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaiʻi Police Department is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting Wednesday afternoon in Ocean View.

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At 4:10 p.m., an officer was in his vehicle when a woman told him about an alleged vehicle theft in the shopping center parking lot in the 92-9700 block of Māmalahoa Highway.

Police said the woman pointed to a man in the parking lot. As officers attempted to make contact, the suspect fled on foot south of Prince Kūhiō Boulevard. He ran into a nearby area of dense brush and unstable lava rock.

Another officer arrived to assist in the search, and both officers entered the dense brush but became separated as they searched for the suspect.

One of the officers told police dispatch he heard gunshots. When the officer moved towards the sound, he found the other officer with a bleeding arm and the suspect unresponsive on the ground.

Investigators said the suspect threw rocks at the second officer. The officer gave loud verbal commands and deployed his taser multiple times, but it was ineffective before he fired his service weapon.

Police said the suspect continued to throw rocks at the officer even after he fired his service weapon.

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Officers began life-saving measures after the suspect was apprehended until Hawaiʻi Fire Department medics arrived. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 5:23 p.m.

The suspect’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday.

The injured officer was taken to the Kaʻū Community Hospital for treatment and was later released.

No other injuries were reported.

The department’s Office of Professional Standards has begun a critical incident review, standard practice in officer-involved shootings.

Authorities said the officer who fired his service weapon has been with the department for less than a year and is assigned to the Kaʻū patrol division. He has since been placed on administrative leave to ensure he is mentally, emotionally and physically able to return to work.

Anyone who witnessed or has information is asked to call the department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

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