Man Killed During Shooting That Also Wounded 2 Officers Was Armed With A Rifle
A 25-year-old man was also struck by a police vehicle and taken to a hospital, according to officials.
The suspect killed after a police pursuit had an unregistered AR-15 style rifle, the Honolulu Police Department said Tuesday. Two officers who were shot remained hospitalized, although the Honolulu mayor said both “have undergone successful surgeries and are expected to recover.”
A man who was struck by a police vehicle during the search for suspect Sidney Tafokitau was treated at a hospital, said HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu. “His possible connection to the case is still being determined,” she wrote in an email.
The officers, who have not been identified, were shot at around 4:30 p.m. Monday after Tafokitau, 44, opened fire, police said.
The shootings occurred after police tried to confront Tafokitau, who was accused of being involved in violent incidents earlier in the day, including shooting a 39-year-old woman at around 7:15 a.m. in Halawa.
The woman was taken to a hospital in serious condition with multiple gunshot wounds, according to Shayne Enright, spokeswoman for Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.
Plainclothes officers tried to apprehend Tafokitau in a stolen vehicle in Kalihi later that morning, but he fired multiple times at their , according to Honolulu CrimeStoppers. He later stole another vehicle from a driver at gunpoint.
Officers located Tafokitau just before 4:15 p.m. in the Manoa area, where a shootout occurred on University Avenue. Tafokitau was shot and later taken to a hospital, where he died, according to Hawaii News Now.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi praised the police for their dedication to keeping the community safe.
“Today our thoughts and prayers go out to the two heroic officers of the Honolulu Police Department who were severely injured in the line of duty while pursuing a dangerous and immediate threat,” he said in a statement. “I am relieved to share that both officers have undergone successful surgeries and are expected to recover.”
The suspect’s weapon, an unregistered AR-15 style rifle, was recovered, Yu wrote in an email.
Attempted murder and robbery investigations related to Tafokitau are still active, according to Yu.
Police Chief Joe Logan defended the police actions.
鈥淚n any type of incident where an individual鈥檚 shooting, we want to use everything we can so that we have control of the situation, perhaps where there鈥檚 less people in an area, so we can minimize any issues and concerns for the public,鈥 Logan said in remarks aired on Hawaii News Now. 鈥淗e was not pulling over, he was not stopping, and he would make frequent U-turns and shoot at officers. So really this was his call to make.鈥
Tafokitau had a lengthy criminal history and had been accused of shooting a man and stabbing another in Kalihi on Dec. 16, according to CrimeStoppers. No-bail warrants were issued for his arrest on Dec. 21.
A warrant for Tafokitau鈥檚 arrest was also issued on Nov. 23 for multiple firearms charges, including owning a firearm as a prohibited felon, owning banned detachable magazines and owning an automatic firearm.
He pleaded not guilty to the counts on Nov. 30, according to court records. His bail was reduced from $150,000 to $75,000, and he was released on Dec. 1.
The public defender who represented him in that case, Sat Freedman, declined to comment when reached by phone on Tuesday.
In 2002, Tafokitau was found guilty of six felony robbery counts and two felony firearms counts, according to court records. He was sentenced to life in prison, and the sentence was later reduced to 20 years incarceration.
