Investigation underway after Maui police fatally shoot man holding weapon in Kahului

KAHULUI (HawaiiNewsNow) - Authorities on Maui are investigating after police fatally shot a man who was “wielding a weapon over his head” in Kahului on Thursday night, officials said.

Authorities responded to the scene near Puukani Street around 7 p.m.

A preliminary investigation revealed that nearby officers responded to a report of a suicidal male at a Kahului residence.

Upon arrival, authorities said the first officer on scene encountered a 29-year-old Kahului man with the weapon over his head.

Investigators said the man moved toward the officer. That’s when the officer opened fire.

Officials said officers conducted life-saving measures until medic personnel arrived on scene.

The 29-year-old man was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he later died.

His identity is currently being withheld at this time.

A woman who says the man who died was her son claims he was not trying to attack the officer.

“It’s not a knife. It’s a sharpener for a knife,” said Leodelfa Antallan. “But he wasn’t intending to you know, attack the officer because it was facing up. It wasn’t facing down that he was going to go and you know, attack him.”

“He had mental illness. He had sickness already. But I don’t know why the cops had to shoot him?” she added.

“Before I left to work today, I even hug him and kiss him and tell him that wait for me. I love you don’t wait too hard. And I guess that was the last that I seen him today.”

HNN has not been able to verify her claims about what her son was holding when he encountered the officer and how he was holding it before he was shot.

Authorities said the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave as standard procedure.

No other injuries were reported. An investigation remains ongoing.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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