Victim of fatal officer-involved shooting in Puna identified

KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Island police have identified the victim in Tuesday morning’s fatal officer-involved shooting in Puna. The victim was positively identified as 30-year-old Tori M. Kaneshiro of Pahoa.

At approximately 7:45 a.m., Puna District police officers stopped to check on a car parked with its hazard lights activated on the shoulder of Kahakai Boulevard near the intersection with Kikoʻu Street. An officer made contact with Kaneshiro, the lone occupant of the vehicle, and subsequently determined she had an outstanding bench warrant, and that she was going to be arrested. The victim indicated she would not come out of the car and then jumped into the rear of the vehicle; grabbed a rifle and refused to let go of it despite repeated orders to do so by officers. The initial officer fired his duty weapon, injuring the victim. Officers at the scene administered CPR and first aid, and she was transported to the Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Police have initiated terroristic threatening and unattended death investigations. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

As is standard practice in any police shooting, the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section will conduct a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and associated death investigation. The Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.

The officers present, as the events unfolded have 12, 11, and less than one-year of police service.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information about it to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311, or contact Detective Frank Mohica at 961-2379 or frank.mohica@hawaiicounty.gov.