City prosecutor: Use of deadly force in officer-involved shooting at gas station was justified

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Nearly three years after a deadly officer-involved shooting at a Kapolei gas station, Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm confirmed Monday that no charges would be filed.

In a press conference, Alm said the use of deadly force in the incident was justified.

Authorities said 30-year-old Michael Kahalehoe was fatally shot by plainclothes officers at a Shell gas station on Farrington Highway in November 2019.

Newly released surveillance video shows how quickly everything unfolded.

In the span of about 30 seconds, Crime Reduction Unit officers rolled up in unmarked vehicles and shots were fired.

Earlier that evening, Alm said Melvin Spillner and Michael Kahalehoe were the topic of an HPD operational briefing. The men were suspected in a crime spree that spanned several days.

“Mr. Kahalehoe and Melvin Spillner were suspects of armed robbery,” Alm said. “They believed these two guys had stolen a blue Subaru.”

After getting a tip on the suspects’ location, officers converged on the gas station.

“Mr. Spillner sees this. (And) throws the nozzle down (as he’s pumping gas).”

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Video shows Spillner attempt to run from police before officers tackled him to the ground.

That’s when the car begins to move with Kahalehoe behind the wheel.

“He goes forward a little bit,” Alm said. “Officers go around the front. He then reverses back.”

Video shows the car then take off again plowing through two unmarked vehicles in what Alm says is in the direction of three officers standing just out of the video’s frame.

“This is when the shooting takes place,” said Alm.

Alm added the officers who opened fire did so to protect the those in the vehicle’s path.

“The officers behind the vehicle and to the side of the vehicle, they all shot into it (the car) around the same time.”

According to the Medical Examiner, Kahalehoe was shot 12 times.

“The officers all acted professionally,” Alm said. “You can see they all have vests on. They all say police. There’s only one person responsible for Mr. Kahalehoe’s death. And that’s Mr. Kahalehoe.”

It’s a claim the 30-year-old’s family disputes.

Last October, they filed a wrongful death lawsuit against HPD.

Attorney Eric Seitz said today he disagreed with the Prosecutor’s findings.

“Officers didn’t need to use deadly force,” said Seitz. “HPD is responsible for killing a man who didn’t need to die.”

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