Police shoot machete-wielding man, 18, during alleged Waipahu assault
Honolulu police said officers shot and seriously injured an 18-year-old man armed with a machete at a Waipahu home Sunday night as they were responding to a domestic dispute.
“While responding to a family argument on Aniani Place, officers encountered and shot an armed male who was attacking another male,” according to a Honolulu Police Department social media post. “The armed male was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital in serious condition.”
HPD Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan said in a press conference today that two officers were sent to a residence on Aniani Place around 7 p.m. Sunday after a woman asked for a 23-year-old man to be removed from her apartment.
After the man left the apartment and walked onto the street, the officers were heading back to their vehicle when another woman came out of the same residence, followed him and reportedly struck him with what appeared to be a walking stick.
As the officers moved to intervene, an 18-year-old man emerged from the driveway and allegedly began swinging a machete at the 23-year-old man.
The officers warned the suspect to drop his weapon, drawing both a taser and a firearm while issuing the command again.
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When the man failed to comply, one of the officers fired a shot, striking him in the torso and causing him to fall onto the ground.
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said paramedics were called to a Aniani Place address at about 7:25 p.m. and treated a man, 18, for a gunshot wound to the body and another man, 23, for injuries from an apparent assault.
Both men were taken to a hospital in serious condition.
Logan said the suspect has been arrested for suspicion of second-degree attempted murder and the other man is in HPD’s custody for an abusive household member incident, which resolved the initial call.
“The suspect, who was shot in the torso has been arrested for attempted murder and he is currently incarcerated at that point in time,” Logan said.
The two officers involved, with 10 and 16 years of service in the Pearl City area, were placed on administrative leave following the incident.
Logan added that, in addition to the criminal investigation, an administrative investigation has been launched in line with department policy.