Gunman who shot and killed a police officer for the first time in the history of Hawaii's Big Island is gunned down by police during a standoff after a three-day manhunt

  • Justin Waiki was killed and an officer was injured during the shootout, according to Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe
  • Waiki suspected of killing Big Island police officer Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa, the first in the island's history  
  • The state of Hawaii has seen 47 officers killed since 1903, all being recorded on the island of Oahu
  • Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim said in a phone interview that an officer was wounded in Friday's shootout but is expected to survive 
  • A woman who was with Waiki was also shot and wounded during the shooting at the extreme southern end of the Big Island  

 Justin Waiki (pictured) was killed and an officer was injured during the shootout, according to Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe

 Justin Waiki (pictured) was killed and an officer was injured during the shootout, according to Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe

A man suspected of gunning down a Hawaii police officer was killed during a shootout with officers Friday after a three-day search across the Big Island, authorities said.

Justin Waiki was killed and an officer was injured during the shootout, Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe told The Associated Press after receiving confirmation from the police chief.

The injured officer was taken to Hilo Medical Center, Okabe said.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim told the AP in a phone interview that the officer wounded in Friday's shootout will survive.

'Chief of police just called to say that the wounds were not life threatening, and he will be OK,' the mayor said. 'The party is no longer a threat to the population, and the police officer is not suffering life-threatening wounds and will be fine.'

A woman who was with Waiki was also shot and wounded during the shooting at the extreme southern end of the Big Island, police spokesman Alan Richmond said. Her condition was not immediately known. 

Local and U.S. authorizes launched a manhunt for Waiki after Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa was shot and killed during a shootout Tuesday following a traffic stop near Hilo. 

 Waiki suspected of killing Big Island police officer Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa (pictured), the first in the island's history

 Waiki suspected of killing Big Island police officer Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa (pictured), the first in the island's history

Harvey Damo Jr. (L) and Shevylyn Klaus (R) are named as two associates of a man suspected of killing Big Island police officer Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa

The suspect fled into the brush on a dark and rainy evening.

A 24-hour task force followed up on tips and information about Waiki's whereabouts. Maj. Samuel Jelsma said police believed his associates were helping hide him on the vast island, where the erupting Kilauea volcano has attracted worldwide attention in recent months. 

Two of Waiki's associates were arrested after an undercover officer approached a suspicious pickup truck with a man and woman inside on Thursday on the other side of the island from where the shooting took place.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim (pictured) told the AP in a phone interview that the officer wounded in Friday's shootout will survive

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim (pictured) told the AP in a phone interview that the officer wounded in Friday's shootout will survive

Harvey Damo Jr. and Shevylyn Klaus were later named as the two associates and were taken into custody for questioning.

The officer drew his weapon and ordered the two people to leave the truck. Instead, they fled and police chased them.

Kaliloa, 46, was the first police officer to be fatally shot on the Big Island. He had been married for 23 years and had three children. He was 'Officer of the Year' for his district in 2014.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a website dedicated to honoring fallen cops, the state of Hawaii has seen 47 officers killed since 1903. All 47 have been recorded on the island of Oahu. 

Kaliloa's niece Kawehi Haug sent a Facebook message Thursday to The Associated Press. 'He was strong and kind and funny and smart and chivalrous and served his community every day as an honest and upstanding police officer whose convictions guided him to always do the right thing,' she wrote.

She also said he was a loving husband and father. Kaliloa and his wife adopted their three children, ages 3, 4 and 7, through the state foster care system, Haug said.

The U.S. Marshals Service, FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had each offered $10,000 rewards for information leading to the capture of Waiki. 

A woman who was with Waiki was also shot and wounded during the shooting at the extreme southern end of the Big Island and is being treated at Hilo Medical Center (Pictured)

A woman who was with Waiki was also shot and wounded during the shooting at the extreme southern end of the Big Island and is being treated at Hilo Medical Center (Pictured)

The violence has had a profound effect on the Big Island community, Kim said.

'The entire island is a small community. This kind of violence is not your everyday thing, thank God. But I think this is a wakeup call and you can just see all around people's appreciation for our police department,' he said. 'I'm glad they see the value of the officers.'

The officer injured in Friday's shootout 'had a vest on, the bullets did not his any of the so-called vital organs,' he said. 'None of the wounds were life-threatening, and he'll be fine.'

When the mayor drove up to the hospital he saw family, friends and many other police officers gathering there.

'To see their sadness and care for their fellow officer and friend, it really impacts you, it really, really does, to see how much of a family they are,' he said. 'When I saw them all in a circle holding hands in prayer form, that's when you know it's a good community.'

The killing of Officer Kaliloa has left a scar, however, Kim said.

'It takes something like this for people to step back a little bit and see the tough job (police) have,' he said. The suspect 'did harm and left a void and an emptiness and a darkness that I don't think will ever be filled.'

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