HONOLULU (KHON2) — Bullets were flying in Kalihi New Years Day. Police searched almost all day for an alleged shooter who took them across the island.
Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan said a woman discovered with gunshot wounds Monday morning on Moanalua Freeway positively identified the suspect as the one who shot her, aiding officers in tracking him down.
“My understanding is he went from Kapahulu, over to the Windward side, from there is where at gunpoint took another vehicle,” Logan said. “From that point he headed to the North Shore and was in that side of the island, went back to district 2 area. He brought the officers back and forth on the North Shore and came back to the town area and back towards Kahala Mall, back to the officers again and up to the University area.”
The first incident happened at about 7 a.m., Emergency Medical Services responded to a 39-year-old female who suffered multiple gun shot wounds on Moanalua Freeway in Aiea.
She was treated on scene and transported to an emergency room.
The chase for the alleged shooter went island wide after witnesses said the same man shot at another car near North King and Kalihi Streets.
Parts of Kalihi Street were closed off as police searched for the allegedly armed suspect.
Police said the suspect wanted for attempted murder and robbery shot at an unmarked police car after officers tried to arrest him.
“That’s really scary, that’s really scary,” said resident of the area Brigitte Lucey. “There are things that happen in Kalihi all the time in the middle of the night, not during the day.”
According to police, the suspect was in a vehicle connected to a car theft in Kaneohe.
Erin Valentine and her mother were waiting at a red light on the intersection of Hui Iwa Street and Kahekili Highway, when a white SUV passed a red light and slammed into another car.
Erin’s mother jumped out of the car to help — but something was off.
“And that’s when I saw a rifle in his hand,” said Valentine.
The man then approached her car.
“He just opened up the car and he had the gun down on his side and he just lifted it up, it was a long rifle and he lifted it up to my face and just said get out,” she said.
During the hours long, chase, Logan said the suspect opened fire on officers at least three times in three different locations.
The chase ended near University Avenue, where SHOPO confirmed two officers were shot.
One was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
The only other injury according to Logan was a fourth man he said was injured by a police vehicle.
“Whether the male was involved in the incident is still under investigation,” Logan said. “We will provide additional information when we are able.”
Footage of police pursuing the suspect quickly spread on social media. Yet there was little information about the manhunt sent out by police to warn the community.
HPD later confirmed the suspect accused of shooting, was shot by police on University Avenue and pronounced dead.
