A Hawaii County police officer fatally shot a 30-year-old attempted murder suspect Friday afternoon in Keaau.
Police said the shooting occurred at 4 p.m. on Highway 11.
Police identified the man as Stephen Joshua Whitney of Hilo, who was being sought Friday in the stabbing of a woman during a domestic dispute on Banyan Drive in Hilo.
Officers hunting a stolen pickup truck in connection with that case found it parked facing the wrong way in the Hilo-bound lane of Highway 11 in the Shipman Industrial Park area of Keaau.
Police said the officers approached the vehicle and the driver failed to obey their orders, instead driving toward an officer while revving his engine. An officer then shot Whitney.
The officer who shot Whitney has three years of experience with police and will be placed on administrative leave, as is standard practice. The Office of Professional Standards is conducting an administrative investigation into the shooting, and the Criminal Investigation Section will conduct a criminal investigation.
The Hawaii County Fire Department said firefighters responding to a report of a man wounded by gunshots found police administering CPR to a man lying on the shoulder of Highway 11 with two gunshot wounds to his torso.
Firefighters took over treatment and continued CPR until paramedics arrived. The man was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Police were searching for Whitney after he allegedly stabbed a 41-year-old woman sometime before 8:21 a.m. Friday at an apartment complex in the 100 block of Banyan Drive.
Police said the woman had severe cuts and was initially in critical condition when she was taken to Hilo Medical Center, but later improved to serious but stable condition.
Police then responded at 9:02 a.m. to a call from road surveyors who saw a man leave a Honda and drive off with their gray Nissan Frontier pickup truck.
Anyone with information relating to the case is asked to call Detective Wendall Carter at 961-2383 or email wendall.carter@hawaii
county.gov
Anonymous tips may be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
