MOUNTAIN VIEW, HAWAII -- A manhunt is underway for a 33-year-old man after the fatal shooting of a Hawaii island police officer in Mountain View Tuesday night.
Officer Bronson K. Kaliloa was gunned down allegedly by the suspect identified as Justin Joshua Waiki.
In a written statement, Gov. Ige extended his condolences to Kaliloa’s family and colleagues. “He was a highly regarded 10-year veteran of the Hawaii Police Department who will be greatly missed. As we mourn this tragic loss, let us honor officer Kaliloa and all men and women in blue for their bravery and commitment to keeping our family and communities safe,” Ige said.
At about 9:47 p.m. on Highway 11 in the area of Kukui Camp Road, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the Hawaii license plate ZGG-879 operated by Waiki whose last known address was Las Vegas, police said. He was wanted on an outstanding no-bail warrant.
When officers approached the vehicle, police said Waiki exited the driver’s seat and fired multiple shots with what is believed to be a handgun, striking Kaliloa in the neck and leg.
Other responding officers immediately returned fire, but Waiki fled on foot into nearby brush.
Highway 11 between Ala Loop and Kulani Road is closed due to the active investigation.
Police are focusing their search around Kukui Camp Road.
Medics transported Kaliloa to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m. today, according to a news release from the Hawaii Police Department.
In February 2015, Kaliloa’s peers honored him with the 2014 Puna Patrol Officer award.
During his 10-year career with the police department, he was also recognized as “Officer of the Month” twice by the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii. In October 2012, the organization honored Kaliloa for his investigative skills where he solved a July burglary case.
On July 14, 2012, he had been assigned to a report of a break-in at a residence in the Nanawale Estates Subdivision. Earlier, at a briefing at the start of his shift, Kaliloa learned a suspect of a string of burglaries in Puna had been arrested for multiple traffic offenses following a crash. When police arrived at the Nanawale home, Kaliloa noticed similarities in the Puna burglary cases involving the man arrested for the traffic violations.
Kaliloa conducted an investigation and obtained a search warrant of the suspect’s vehicle. Officers recovered several items inside the car belonging to the Nanawale burglary victims.
In April 2014, the Aloha Exchange Club honored him as “Officer of the Month” for the second time for his investigative skills after he helped nab a dangerous convicted felon, who was armed with a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, in the Maku’u Hawaiian Homes subdivision.
Kaliloa is survived by his wife and three children.
Waiki has a criminal record that includes, promotion of a dangerous drug, forgery, ownership or possession prohibited of a firearm, assault, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, criminal property damage and disorderly conduct.
He is described as 5 feet 11 inches and about 145 pounds. Waiki was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored jacket. The public is advised not to approach him as he is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call police at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
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