MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a non-fatal officer involved shooting in Kona on Monday evening.

At 9:08 p.m., police responded to a report of an attempted suicide in progress at a home on Manu Mele Street in Kailua-Kona.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 33-year-old man who was standing outside the house holding a rifle. Officers ordered the man to put the weapon down but he refused to follow their instructions and attempted to use the rifle to harm himself.

One officer discharged his duty weapon, striking the man in his right shoulder and causing him to drop the rifle. The man was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was treated for his injury. He is listed in stable condition.

The officer is identified as a 31-year-old eight-year veteran of the Hawaiʻi Police Department.

No officers were injured during the incident.

As is standard practice in any police involved shooting, the Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigations Section will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.