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Armed robbery suspect dies in Kapolei after Honolulu police fire about 20 rounds

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Video by Rosemarie Bernardo
A blue sedan believed to be involved in an overnight shooting at the Shell gas station in Kapolei was towed away this morning.
HONOLULU CRIMESTOPPERS
                                Michael Kahalehoe, 30, was killed by police officers in a Kapolei gas station Tuesday night.
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HONOLULU CRIMESTOPPERS

Michael Kahalehoe, 30, was killed by police officers in a Kapolei gas station Tuesday night.

HONOLULU CRIMESTOPPERS
                                Melvin Spillner, 24, left, and Victor Gascon III, 25. CrimeStoppers reported today that police located Spillner at the Shell gas station in Kapolei and arrested him on a $25,000 bench warrant. Gascon remains on the loose.
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HONOLULU CRIMESTOPPERS

Melvin Spillner, 24, left, and Victor Gascon III, 25. CrimeStoppers reported today that police located Spillner at the Shell gas station in Kapolei and arrested him on a $25,000 bench warrant. Gascon remains on the loose.

ROSEMARIE BERNARDO / RBERNARDO@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                Police towed away a sedan believed to be involved in an overnight officer-involved shooting in Kapolei.
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ROSEMARIE BERNARDO / RBERNARDO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Police towed away a sedan believed to be involved in an overnight officer-involved shooting in Kapolei.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                The Shell gas station, at 577 Farrington Hwy., in Kapolei. A 30-year-old man was fatally shot at the gas station by police around 10:45 pm Tuesday night.
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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM

The Shell gas station, at 577 Farrington Hwy., in Kapolei. A 30-year-old man was fatally shot at the gas station by police around 10:45 pm Tuesday night.

HONOLULU CRIMESTOPPERS
                                Michael Kahalehoe, 30, was killed by police officers in a Kapolei gas station Tuesday night.
HONOLULU CRIMESTOPPERS
                                Melvin Spillner, 24, left, and Victor Gascon III, 25. CrimeStoppers reported today that police located Spillner at the Shell gas station in Kapolei and arrested him on a $25,000 bench warrant. Gascon remains on the loose.
ROSEMARIE BERNARDO / RBERNARDO@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                Police towed away a sedan believed to be involved in an overnight officer-involved shooting in Kapolei.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
                                The Shell gas station, at 577 Farrington Hwy., in Kapolei. A 30-year-old man was fatally shot at the gas station by police around 10:45 pm Tuesday night.

>> Video: Chief Susan Ballard gives update on Kapolei officer-involved shooting

Five Honolulu Police Department plainclothes officers fired about 20 rounds in all, killing a 30-year-old man who was wanted in a rash of armed robberies and possible carjackings, police Chief Susan Ballard said today.

Michael Kahalehoe died at the scene. He had a handgun in his waist band, Ballard said.

His suspected accomplice, Melvin Spillner, 24, tried to run away but was captured and later treated for minor injuries, Ballard said.

Kahalehoe and Spillner are “possible suspects” in a rash of recent carjacking and “they are definitely the suspects in multiple armed robberies that have been occurring on this island since Nov. 3.”

CrimeStoppers earlier Tuesday issued an alert for both men, along with a third suspect, Victor Gascon III, 25, who remains wanted for failing to comply with the terms and conditions of his probation.

Plainclothes officers from HPD’s Special Enforcement Detail and Crime Reduction Unit were in unmarked vehicles when they spotted the vehicle that Kahalehoe was driving and followed it into the Shell gas station in Kapolei at 577 Farrington Highway around 10:30 p.m.

Spillner was gassing up the vehicle and tried to run away, but was stopped, Ballard said.

Kahalehoe drove “back and forth in an attempt to leave the gas station” and struck a police vehicle while “grazing” one of the officers, Ballard said.

“Fearing for their own lives and that of their fellow officers,” five officers began firing, she said.

The officers have between five years and 17 years of experience on the force and have been offered three days of administrative leave, Ballard said.

Kahalehoe had 17 convictions, including six felony convictions for vehicle break ins, vehicle theft, drugs and weapons violations. Spillner has six convictions, including four felony convictions for vehicle break ins and vehicle thefts.

Police are also looking for the female driver of a black Honda that was at the gas station.

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