HPD releases surveillance video from fatal Waikiki barricade shooting
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A suspect who was involved in a police standoff at a Waikiki hotel was shot and killed by officers following an hours-long barricade situation, officials said.
Around 6 p.m. Friday, HPD released surveillance footage from Ohia Waikiki of the incident. Viewer discretion is advised as portions of the following video may be disturbing to some viewers.
On Thursday afternoon, around 1:45 p.m., officers responded to the Ohia Waikiki Studio Suites at the corner of Nohonani Street and Kuhio Avenue to a male barricaded in the fifth-floor unit.
Honolulu Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan said in a press conference on Friday that officers knocked on the door, identifying themselves as police, and heard gunshots from within the apartment.
Shortly after, officers cleared rooms on the floor and rooms across the street from the suspect’s unit, he said.
“Negotiators tried multiple times to establish contact with the suspect, but he refused to respond to all their attempts,” Logan said.
HPD’s Specialized Services Division also deployed a less lethal round into the unit, but the suspect failed to respond.
Just before midnight, a robot entered the unit with SSD officers waiting in the hallway. After repeated orders to exit the unit, the suspect walked into the hallway with his hands in the air and holding a handgun, Logan added.
“SSD officers repeatedly ordered the male to stop and put the weapon down. However, the male continued to advance toward the officers and eventually lowered the hand holding the gun,” he said, adding that the gun “was pointed or facing the hallway toward the officers.”
“At that time, two officers fired at the male, striking him twice.”
The suspect was taken to the hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds, where he later died, officials said.
His identity is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
“We were hoping this incident did not result in loss of life,” Logan said. “It’s not the outcome we wanted, but we are grateful no one else was hurt.”
The barricade situation triggered road closures and the partial evacuation of a hotel, Honolulu police said.
No HPD officers or bystanders were injured. However, Logan said earlier in the day, the suspect fired eight rounds from the unit from a “ghost gun” which are untraceable. HPD added that at least one round hit a police cruiser that was parked below.
The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii and Hilton Hawaiian Village helped with housing for 90 people displaced during the stand off.
”I got call from HPD they said can you help us relocate 90 people and I said, can you give me 10 minutes?” said Jessica Lani Rich with The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii.
“Within 5 minutes the Hilton Hawaiian Village stepped up and said they could help.”
Angie Castillo, who is visiting from San Antonio, said she was staying in the room above where the incident happened.
“We were on the balcony had a couple of drinks then we heard this pop up. We knew immediately it was a gunshot,” Castillo said. “Within a couple of minutes we’ve seen some cops out here, a couple of went up there on the stairs with their guns, and then before we knew it more cops and employees are coming pounding on the door.”
“I was hesitant to open the door because hearing a gunshot and then somebody’s pounding on your door immediately, you’re right away thinking, ‘Hey, this could be a person trying to come in with a gun shoot you,’” she continued.
Both directions of Kuhio Avenue were shut down between Royal Hawaiian Avenue and Nahua Street. Nohonani Street was also closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic between Ala Wai Boulevard and Kuhio Avenue.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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