HPD Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Thursday afternoon, July 21, in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision.

In response to a 1:20 p.m. call reporting a man possibly armed with a weapon, Puna District officers combed the subdivision and located him on Beach Road off Kaloli Drive seated in a pickup truck.

Two officers approached the vehicle. They made contact with the man and a struggle ensued.

During the struggle, the man in the truck pointed a handgun at one of the officers.

In response, that officer fired his duty weapon, fatally injuring the gunman.

The man’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of his family.

An autopsy will be ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The officer who fired his weapon has been with the Hawaiʻi Police Department for nine years. The other officer, who has five years’ experience, was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

No officers were injured by gunfire.

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 Tuckloy Aurello at 961-2385.

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.