A man who shot a Hawaii Police Department officer and a woman was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, ending a nearly daylong standoff at a home in Halaula. ADVERTISING A man who shot a Hawaii Police Department officer and a
A man who shot a Hawaii Police Department officer and a woman was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, ending a nearly daylong standoff at a home in Halaula.
At about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, a police spokeswoman said the suspect, 37-year-old Macdon D. Thromman of Kapaau, who barricaded himself into the home and stayed there for more than 20 hours, finally surrendered. There were no additional injuries reported.
Police said Thromman allegedly shot the two victims during the response to a domestic disturbance Monday evening.
The incident began at 7:48 p.m. Monday when officers were dispatched to a domestic incident at a home in the vicinity of 53-4200 Akoni Pule Highway, police said. Officers talked to neighbors, who told police there had been yelling and screaming coming from the home. As officers approached, several people began running from the residence and a shot was fired.
It hit a 43-year-old officer in the right forearm. The officer, a 14-year veteran of the department, was transported to North Hawaii Community Hospital.
A 32-year-old woman approached other officers and said she had been “shot in the outer thigh by her boyfriend,” according to a prepared statement.
The wounded officer and woman were listed in stable condition at the Waimea hospital.
The surrounding area was evacuated by police and the road closed to most traffic.
Throughout the day the only people allowed to pass police barricades were local residents. This led to tourists who planned to go to the Pololu Valley lookout having to turn around. Residents remained in line in their cars during the times the road was shut down completely. Some got out to chat with each other as they waited for a resolution.
The department’s negotiation team was in communication with the suspect, who allegedly told a group of officers he would shoot them if they got too close, negotiators said over the radio.
Officers from the Special Response Team remained armed throughout the day, wearing body armor and carrying M4 assault rifles. Several times they drove down the highway in the unit van, although they remained inside.
Officers were called from numerous districts and local officers were called in on their days off to monitor the perimeter and perform other duties. Police would not specify how many officers were in the area, but more than 15 officers were seen.
Hawaii Tribune-Herald reporter John Burnett contributed to this report.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
