Police Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Ocean View

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2026, in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision in Ocean View.

At 4:10 p.m., a Ka‘ū patrol officer was in his subsidized police vehicle in a shopping center parking lot in the 92-8700 block of Māmalahoa Highway when he was flagged down by a woman who reported a theft. The woman pointed to a male suspect who was in the parking lot.

The officer attempted to contact the male suspect, who fled the area on foot heading south on Prince Kuhio Boulevard. The suspect then ran into a nearby area of dense brush and unstable lava rock.

A second Ka‘ū patrol officer arrived on scene to assist in searching for the theft suspect. The two officers entered the dense brush area where the suspect had fled on foot, however they became separated during the search. One of the officers subsequently reported to police dispatch that he heard shots fired. Making his way in the direction from which he heard the shots, the officer discovered the second officer with a bleeding arm and the suspect on the ground unresponsive.

Through investigation, it was learned that the suspect threw rocks at the second officer. The second officer issued loud, verbal commands and deployed his taser multiple times, which was ineffective, before firing his service weapon. After the officer discharged his service weapon, the suspect continued to try to throw rocks at the officer. The officer apprehended the suspect and began life saving measures on the man until Hawai‘i Fire Department medics arrived on scene. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene shortly after 5:23 p.m.

The suspect’s name is not being released at this time, pending positive identification and notification of next of kin. An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday, Oct 9.

The injured officer was transported to the Ka‘ū Community Hospital for treatment of his injuries and later released.  

No other officers or members of the public were injured during this incident.

The Hawai‘i Police Department Office of Professional Standards has initiated a critical incident review as is standard practice in officer-involved shootings. The officer who fired his firearm has been with the department for less than a year and is assigned to the Ka‘ū patrol division. He has been placed on administrative leave to ensure he is mentally, emotionally, and physically able to return to work. 

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed or may have any information about the incident to please call the department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.