������Ƶ

The Maui Police Department has identified Reynaldo Ricarde, 29, as the Kahului man shot and killed by an officer last week.

During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, police officials released more information about the events that unfolded Thursday evening. But police officials would not take questions from the media, citing the pending investigation, and they did not release the name of the officer involved.

It was the first fatal shooting by Maui police since 2018.

During the briefing, police officials said that officers were sent to a call about disorderly conduct at Puukani Street, but shortly thereafter received another call about a suicidal man with “unknown weapons.”

MPD Detective Taylor Kamakawiwoole said that when police arrived on scene around 7 p.m., a neighbor pointed the officer where to go.

Kamakawiwoole said the officer saw Ricarde, who had some sort of an object in his hand, move into a position that “resembles an officer drawing on his weapon,” spurring the officer to raise his firearm. At the time, Ricarde was yelling, and his shirt was covered in blood from self-inflicted injuries, the detective said.

Police officials played the video from the body camera of the officer up until the moment he shot Ricarde. The body camera footage shows Ricarde moving from behind a wall in the front yard then entering a home. After several seconds, Ricarde came back out through the front door of the house, then charged at the officer, holding what police called a “long pointed object.” It appeared to be a kitchen knife honing rod, according to police evidence photographs shown during the news conference.

After yelling “show me your hands,” the officer shouted, “Stop!” five times before firing the gun, the body camera footage shows. During the news conference, officials stopped the video before it showed the shooting.

Police officials said Ricarde later said “shoot me” and “kill me” after he was shot.

Police say they attempted life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived on the scene. He was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he later died.

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said that had Ricarde lived, he would have been charged with attempted murder in the first degree.

“It is the suspects’ actions that dictate our officers’ response,” Pelletier said. “The safety of this community is our top priority.”

Last week, police said the officer involved was placed on administrative leave as standard procedure. Officials did not give any more information Tuesday.

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation and the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation.