MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred just after midnight at a shopping center located off of Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo. The immediate area where the shooting occurred remains closed at this time.

On February 5, 2016, at approximately 12:20 a.m., police were investigating a possible sighting of a sought-after fugitive who was known to be armed and dangerous. Upon conducting checks of the area, officers located the suspect driving a vehicle within the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant. Officers commanded the suspect to exit the vehicle, but he instead drove over barriers within the drive-thru and accelerated his vehicle and drove directly at an officer and subsequently rammed into two police vehicles.

During this event, officers discharged their firearms at the vehicle accelerating towards the officer, which resulted in fatally injuring the driver; a front seat female passenger was also injured during this incident. The passenger was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of injuries, and presently is in critical condition. No one else was injured in this incident.

The identity of the suspect is being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin.

The officers who fired their weapons have 20, 15, and 6 years of experience with the Hawaiʻi Police Department.

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

Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Detective Grant Todd at (808) 961-2385, or Detective Dean Uyetake at (808) 961-2379.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

UPDATED (5:24 p.m. on 2/5/2016)

Ronald Barawis Jr.

Hawaiʻi Island police have identified the male suspect as 38-year-old Ronald Barawis of Kailua-Kona. The female passenger is a 28-year-old from Mountain View on the Big Island, as she has not been arrested, her identity is not being released.

The suspect and female passenger both sustained several gunshot wounds during the incident. The female passenger was transported to Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu where she is in critical but stable condition.

Police have observed a shotgun, assault type rifle, and two semi-automatic handguns within Barawis’ reach within the vehicle he was operating. There is also what appears to be a bulletproof type vest on the backrest of the driver’s seat.

The incident began on February 5, 2016, at approximately 12:20 a.m., when police were investigating a possible sighting of a fugitive who was being sought on two outstanding warrants for parole violation and contempt of court as well as for resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle, reckless driving, and reckless endangering. The latter three incidents occurring on January 20, 2016, in Kailua-Kona where he charged forward with his vehicle nearly striking a Police Officer. He was also being sought for questioning for involvement in an attempted murder incident that occurred on December 29, 2015, in the upper Kaumana area in Hilo.

Officers located the suspect driving a vehicle on February 5th, within the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant. Officers commanded the suspect to exit the vehicle, but he instead drove over barriers within the drive-thru and accelerated his vehicle and drove directly at an officer and subsequently rammed into two police vehicles.

During this event, officers discharged their firearms at the vehicle accelerating towards the officer, which resulted in fatally injuring the driver and injuring a front seat female passenger. No one else was injured in this incident.

The officers who fired their weapons have 20, 15, and 6 years of experience with the Hawaiʻi Police Department.

As is standard practice in any police involved shooting, the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section will conduct a criminal investigation into the shooting and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation. The affected officers have been placed on Administrative Leave.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Detective Grant Todd at 961-2385, or Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.