UPDATE: Two Dead Following Officer-Involved Shooting in Hilo

Big Island authorities have reported a second death in connection with an officer-involved shooting that took place overnight in Hilo.

South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a reported domestic dispute at a residence on Mokuhonua Lane a little after 7 pm on the evening of Sunday, June 13, 2021. As officers arrived and contacted the occupants of the residence to investigate, police say a male party emerged from a back room of the residence with a semi-automatic rifle and began firing at officers.

The suspect, who has been identified 34-year-old Ryan Yukiharu Santos, fired multiple shots from two semi-automatic rifles at both officers and their marked police vehicles, a release from the department said.

Officers were able to retreat, and one was able to return fire, striking the suspect. Police and responding paramedics performed CPR on Santos, HPD said. However, Santos died at the scene.

During the course of the incident, a 91-year-old relative of the suspect appeared to go into cardiac arrest. He was transported by medics to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room, where he was later pronounced dead. It is believed he died from a medical condition, though an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death. The autopsy for Santos and the 91-year-old relative are scheduled for Tuesday morning, June 15. 

There were no reported injuries to other persons within the residence, surrounding neighbors, or the responding officers.  

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this attempted first-degree murder investigation. The Office of Professional Standards has initiated a standard internal administrative investigation. The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review of this incident.

Hawai´i County Mayor Mitch Roth and the HPD have scheduled a press conference for Monday afternoon to address the incident further.

Police ask anyone who may have information about this incident to call the department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. They may also contact Detective John Balberde of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2386 or via email [email protected].