Police Release Additional Information About Officer-Involved Shooting in Hilo

Big Island police released more information shortly after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, about an incident involving an officer discharging his weapon in downtown Hilo.

Detectives with the Hawai’i Police Department are investigating following an officer-involved shooting shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

According to a media release from police, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a report of a male party on Keawe Street in downtown Hilo who was cutting himself with a knife. Responding officers observed the suspect with a knife and gave loud verbal commands for him to put the knife down.

The suspect immediately began rapidly approaching an officer. The officer drew his weapon and continued giving clear commands to the suspect. The suspect ignored the officer’s lawful commands and the officer subsequently discharged his duty weapon, striking the suspect in the lower extremities.

Police and responding paramedics immediately performed CPR on the suspect prior to him being transported via ambulance to Hilo Medical Center. He remains hospitalized; however, is expected to make a full recovery.

There were no reported injuries to bystanders or the responding officers.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation.

The Office of Professional Standards initiated a standard internal administrative investigation. The officer in the shooting is a 14-year veteran of the department and will be placed on administrative leave pending an internal review of the incident.

Police ask anyone who might have witnessed this incident to call the police department’s nonemergency line at 808-935-3311 or contact Detective John Balberde of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2386 or via email at John.Balberde@hawaiicounty.gov.

HPD reported shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday that Keawe Street was closed from Mamo to Kalākaua streets because of police activity in the area. Police reported at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday that the road was reopen.