Assistant Police Chief Henry Tavares said Friday the only shot fired in a deadly confrontation Thursday afternoon between officers and an armed man in Hawaiian Paradise Park was the shot fired by the officer who killed 36-year-old BJ Medeiros of
Assistant Police Chief Henry Tavares said Friday the only shot fired in a deadly confrontation Thursday afternoon between officers and an armed man in Hawaiian Paradise Park was the shot fired by the officer who killed 36-year-old BJ Medeiros of Keaau.
An autopsy conducted Friday determined Medeiros died from a gunshot wound to his torso, police said.
According to police, officers responded to a 1:20 p.m. Thursday call reporting a man possibly armed with a weapon. Officers combed the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision and found Medeiros on Beach Road off Kaloli Drive seated in a pickup, police said. Tavares said Medeiros was alone.
Two officers approached the vehicle and a struggle ensued, police said. During the struggle, Medeiros allegedly pointed a handgun at one of the officers. In response, that officer fired his weapon, killing Medeiros.
In response to reports by other media that Medeiros possibly was suicidal, Tavares said, “I know those reports are out there; I don’t want to comment on that at this time.”
Tavares said a loaded firearm was recovered and Medeiros wasn’t wanted by police on arrest warrants when the shooting occurred.
According to police, the officer who fired his weapon is a nine-year veteran of the Hawaii Police Department. The other officer, who has five years of experience, was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.
No officers were injured by gunfire, police said.
Thursday’s incident will be subject to two police investigations, which is standard practice in any police-involved shooting. One is a criminal investigation by the Hilo Criminal Investigations Section. The other is an administrative investigation by the Office of Professional Standards, the department’s internal affairs unit. Tavares said both officers involved in the incident will be on administrative leave during the investigations.
Anyone who witnessed Thursday’s shooting is asked to contact Detective Tuckloy Aurello at 961-2385 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
This is the fourth fatal police-involved shooting this year, all in East Hawaii. The other three were in Hilo.
Kalyp Allen Rapoza, 25, of Hilo was shot June 6 by an officer at a home on East Kawailani Street. Police say Rapoza chased Fire Department ambulance personnel back into their vehicle with a dog and knife. An officer was dispatched to the scene and was confronted, according to police, and shot Rapoza and the pit bull.
On Feb. 9, Scottie Yanagawa, a 29-year-old prison furlough escapee wanted by police, was shot to death after an armed confrontation in the Hilo Wal-Mart parking lot, police said.
And on Feb. 5, Ronald Barawis, a 38-year-old parolee from Kailua-Kona, was shot and killed by officers in the McDonald’s drive-thru at Puainako Town Center. Police say Barawis, who was wanted for parole violation and contempt of court, was heavily armed and drove at officers, who fired in response. A woman who was in the car with Barawis was critically injured by gunfire.
Yanagawa and Barawis reportedly were wanted by police for a Jan. 31 shooting at Honolii lookout that critically injured a Kona man, William Holbron-Kealoha.
A paroled murderer, John Perez III, was arrested for the shooting and is awaiting trial for second-degree attempted murder.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
