One man is dead and a woman critically injured following an officer-involved shooting early Friday in Hilo.
At 12:20 a.m., Hawaii Police Department officers were investigating a possible sighting of a sought-after fugitive who police say was known to be armed and dangerous on Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo. Upon conducting checks of the area, officers located the suspect driving a vehicle within the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant.
Officers commanded the suspect to exit the vehicle, but he instead drove over barriers within the drive-thru and accelerated his vehicle and drove directly at an officer and subsequently rammed into two police vehicles, according to police.
Police say officers sprayed the vehicle with bullets as it accelerated towards an officer, which resulted in fatally injuring the driver. A front seat female passenger was also critically injured during the incident. She remains at Hilo Medical Center in critical condition. No one else was injured in this incident.
The identity of the suspect is being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin. The immediate area where the shooting occurred remains closed at this time.
According to police chief Henry Tavares, four officers were at the scene and three fired at the suspect’s car.
Tavares said the man “was wanted on two active bench warrants and on an all-points bulletin for arrest for questioning a reckless endangering case in Kona that occurred on Jan. 20.”
Asked if the woman was wanted by police, Tavares replied, “Our interest was the male party.”
“At this point, we believe the suspect was armed. It’s still unknown if he fired at the officers.” Tavares said.
The officers who fired their weapons have 20, 15, and 6 years of experience with the Hawaii Police Department.
As is standard practice in any police involved shooting, the department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Detective Grant Todd at (808) 961-2385, or Detective Dean Uyetake at (808) 961-2379.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Hawaii Tribune-Herald staff writer John Burnett contributed to this report.