City prosecutor: Deadly use of force in 2020 officer-involved shooting in Kailua was justified

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Following an independent investigation, the city Department of the Prosecuting Attorney concluded the use of deadly force by two Honolulu police officers was justified in a Kailua shooting that occurred back in 2020.

“Any time any use of deadly force is regrettable and it’s tragic, but sometimes it’s justified,” said City Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm. “And in this case, the police did what they had to do and they did it right.”

Officials said 33-year-old Dallas Pearce was shot and killed by plain-clothes officers on Jan. 6 in a parking lot of the Aikahi Gardens housing community.

Pearce had been wanted by police after failing to return from work furlough about seven weeks prior.

“If he turned himself in right away instead of waiting for the holidays or for his birthday, he’d still be alive today,” said

Police said they saw Pearce with a gun and believed they were in danger. That claim was disputed by Pearce’s then-girlfriend who was also at the scene.

According to the report, the officers used verbal commands and physical force in their attempt to arrest Pearce, but he resisted.

“It was over and over and they were telling him repeatedly, it was visible, it was during the day, they’re wearing ballistic vests, there’s no question he knew they were police officers,” said Alm. “And they told them over and over, they’re trying to pull him out of the car and that is a really intense struggle.”

“You see how small the car is? Three adult males in this small space fighting with each other, you know, that’s why it’s a it’s a scary job at times.”

During the struggle, an officer said he saw Pearce pulling what appeared to be a handgun out of his right front pocket. Prosecutors said the officer then lost his grip on Pearce’s right hand and yelled at a sergeant to shoot Pearce. Officials said the sergeant then fired at him several times while the officer shot Pearce once.

Authorities said he was declared dead about an hour later at Adventist Health Castle hospital.

Prosecutors said the item Pearce was pulling out of his pants pocket was a replica handgun.