KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Police Department Special Response Team sergeant injured Friday during a shootout at South Point was “recovering nicely” in stable condition at Hilo Medical Center, police said Saturday.
The investigations into that shooting and anyone who may have assisted Justin Waiki, the 33-year-old suspect who was wanted in the Tuesday evening shooting death of Puna patrol officer Bronson Kaliloa, are continuing, police added.
Police are also following up on leads related to anyone who might have assisted Waiki in the days following Tuesday evening’s shooting, including anybody who helped transport or shelter him while he was wanted.
Waiki died Friday after a shootout with police at South Point, during which Waiki reportedly shot the sergeant. According to police, Waiki was hiding under a blanket in the very back of the vehicle and when the officer opened the back lift gate, the suspect “emerged from under the blanket and shot the officer.”
That sergeant, whom police have not identified other than that he is a 12-year veteran of the department, was medevaced to Hilo Medical Center with gunshot wounds to his chest and arm.
He was in stable condition as of Saturday afternoon, said Maj. Robert Wagner.
Wagner said the firearm used by Waiki was identified as a .38 revolver that was reported stolen from a residence in March.
Waiki was reportedly located in a Toyota 4Runner Friday afternoon at a checkpoint established to search vehicles coming in and out of South Point Road after police received information that the suspect was in the South Point area of Ka‘u.
The vehicle was allegedly driven by 35-year-old Jorge Pagan-Torres. Other occupants reportedly included Krystle Ferreira, 29, of Waimea, Malia Lajala, 30, of Hilo, and a third woman who has not yet been identified.
That woman, 35, received a gunshot to the leg and has a broken femur, Wagner said. She was being treated for her injuries at Hilo Medical Center as of Saturday.
Wagner said Saturday that the vehicle was registered to Ferreira’s parents.
On Friday, police arrested Pagan-Torres, Ferreira and Lajala on suspicion of first-degree hindering prosecution, and the three were transported to Kealakehe police station.
Wagner said they have not yet been charged, but noted that first-degree hindering prosecution is a class C felony punishable by up to five years in jail.
The manhunt for Waiki started Tuesday evening at 9:47 p.m. after police say he shot officer Kaliloa, 46, beside Highway 11 in Mountain View when the officer approached a vehicle during a traffic stop.
Waiki allegedly got out of the car and shot Kaliloa, a 10-year veteran of the department, in the neck and leg. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be torn carotid artery caused by a gunshot wound, and the manner of death homicide.
Waiki, whose last known address was in Las Vegas, was being sought at the time of the traffic stop on a no-bail warrant for revocation of his bail conditions. Waiki’s record included 37 arrests for various offenses and 16 convictions. Three of those convictions were for felony offenses related to firearms, drug offenses and forgery and four for misdemeanors including assault, traffic violation and contempt of court.
The first chance to pursue Waiki since Tuesday’s fatal shooting happened Thursday evening when police received reports of a sighting in Kailua-Kona. At 4:58 p.m., police responded to Ka Hale Kahaluu on reports of shots fired where two individuals in a truck led police on a chase through South Kona ending at Middle Keei Road where the suspects fled on foot.
After hours of combing the countryside, Harvey Damo Jr., 25, of Hilo, and Shevylyn Klaus, also 25 and of Hilo, were taken into custody. Damo was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound at Kona Community Hospital.
Damo and Klaus were arrested on suspicion of second-degree theft.
Police say they are still investigating leads related to anyone who might have assisted Waiki in the days following Tuesday evening’s shooting.
Anybody with information about the case or about anyone who assisted Waiki during the time he was wanted contact Detective Jerome Manuel of the criminal investigation section at 326-4646, ext. 262, or Jerome.Manuel@hawaiicounty.gov.
THANK YOU Hawaii PD !!!