The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is offering up to a $10,000 reward for information leading to “the arrest and conviction of Justin Joshua Waiki, who shot and killed Hawai’i Island Police Officer Bronson K. Kaliloa” during a traffic stop the evening of Tuesday, July 17, 2018, an ATF press release stated.
Kaliloa, a 10-year veteran of the Hawaiʻi Police Department, was married with three children.
The shooting occurred during a traffic stop along Highway 11 in the area of Kukui Camp Road in Mt. View, about 9:47 p.m. As officers approached the vehicle, Waiki exited the driver’s seat door and fired multiple rounds from what is believed to be a handgun, striking Kaliloa in the neck and leg area.
Other officers returned fire, but Waiki was able to flee into the brush.
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Officer Kaliloa was transported by the Hawaiʻi Fire Department Medic Unit to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room. He underwent surgery, but was pronounced dead at approximately 12:45 a.m.
Waiki is about 5-foot-10-inches to 5-foot-11-inches in height, weighs between 145 and 160 pounds, and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored jacket.
He has a large tattoo in the center of his neck.
Waiki has three previous felony convictions for owning/possessing a prohibited weapon, promoting dangerous drugs and forgery.
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Waiki is to be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
Waiki has ties to the Las Vegas area and is wanted on an outstanding no-bail warrant and multiple all-points bulletins, according to the Hawai’i Police Department.
Anyone with information is asked to call ATF’s toll-free hotline at 888-ATF-TIPS (283-8477), the Hawai’i Island police at (808) 935-3311, or Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300.
All calls to ATF and Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous.
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People can also submit a tip through ATF’s new “report it” app available at www.reportit.com
and at Google Play and the Apple App Store.
All tips are confidential and can be anonymous.
More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.
This information was provided by the authorities. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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