A police officer shot and killed a man and his dog late Monday afternoon at a home near the corner of West Kawailani Street and Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo.
At about 4:20 p.m., police received a report of a disturbance at the intersection. Upon arrival, an officer encounter a man wielding a knife, along with a pit bull that had earlier chased paramedics into their vehicle. Several shots were fired by the officer, resulting in the death of the man and the pit bull.
The man has been identified as 25-year-old Kalyp Allen Rapoza, of Hilo.
As is standard practice in any officer-involved shooting, the Police 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.
Anyone with any information about this incident should call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or Robert.almeida@hawaiicounty.gov.
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.