20-year-old woman dies in officer-involved shooting on Maui after threatening police with knife

A woman is dead following an officer-involved shooting this past weekend on Maui after threatening officers with a knife at a central Maui residence.

Maui Police Department on Tuesday during an afternoon press conference at the Wailuku police station provided additional information about the Feb. 1 incident in Pukalani.

Capt. Nelson Hamilton with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division described how the situation unfolded.

Central Dispatch received a report at about 3:46 p.m. Feb. 1 about an abuse-type case at 78 Noho Place in Pukalani.

“Officers arrived on scene at approximately 3:54 p.m. and were informed that 20-year-old Macayla Deponte of Haʻikū had barricaded herself inside the bedroom with a knife,” said Hamilton. “Upon entering the residence, officers repeatedly identified themselves and attempted to engage her, asking her if she was OK. She refused to come out. Instead, she played loud music and yelled incoherently.”

The captain said officers were able to assess the situation inside and outside the residence within several minutes.

“At 3:59 p.m., one of the officers made checks of the attached garage through the only entrance-exit point, which was a door within the kitchen,” Hamilton said. “As he exited the garage to the kitchen, Deponte suddenly emerged from the bedroom armed with a knife.”

The officer drew his firearm as she advanced while a second officer, who had entered the residence, withdrew his taser.

“Both officers gave verbal commands to her to show [her] hands and drop the knife. When she failed to comply, she continued forward with the knife,” the captain said. “The officers instructed her multiple times to drop the knife.”

Officers attempted to create distance while continuing verbal commands during a span of about 10 seconds.

“When she raised the knife and moved towards the officers, he discharged his firearm twice. At 4:01 p.m., officers immediately called for medical assistance and gave life-saving measures while awaiting the medics,” Hamilton said.

Photos of the enclosed garage and knife the woman was holding when she advanced toward the officers were shown. Body-worn camera footage from the responding officers was also shown.

Had the woman survived, she would have been charged with first-degree attempted murder.

“The sanctity of human life is a core value of the Maui Police Department, and is embedded in our policies and our training,” said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. “We recognize that a family is grieving the loss of a loved one. There are no winners and critical incidents. Everyone is impacted. Police officers are called to make split-second decisions in rapidly dynamic evolving situations.”

Pelletier added that when faced with an imminent threat, officers must react to protect themselves and others in the community.

“Public safety and protecting the community is our highest priority. This, unfortunately, is a stark reminder of the risks of this profession,” the chief said. “May God bless our community. May God bless the police department.”

The officer involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure. Investigation into the incident is ongoing.