WAILUKU, Hawaii — Maui police released body camera footage and additional details surrounding the fatal shooting of Officer Suzanne O, who was killed in the line of duty last week while responding to a trespassing and gunfire call in Pāʻia, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
Detective Jeffrey Calibuso said during an emotional press conference that Officer O was struck about an inch above her protective vest by a round fired from a ghost gun, according to the report. She had been holding a flashlight in her left hand when the bullet entered from her left side.
The shooting occurred the evening of Aug. 15, as O and five other officers responded to a report of a man firing a gun near the old Paia Sugar Mill. According to Assistant Chief Keola Tom, a property caretaker told officers that a man he did not recognize had fired two rounds at him.
The suspect was hiding behind a concrete pillar when he opened fire on officers searching the property. Bodycam footage played during the press conference showed the moment of the shooting. Fellow officers, including Officer Mousa Kawas, responded immediately, locating the suspect and returning fire before taking him into custody.
The suspect has been charged with first-degree murder and multiple other offenses. Police confirmed he is a convicted felon with a history that includes theft, disorderly conduct and a recent temporary restraining order issued just two days before the shooting. Officers also recovered a second firearm at the scene.
“We make split-second decisions in dynamic, rapidly evolving incidents, and this incident demonstrates the very real dangers of the police profession,” he said.
Pelletier called for stronger penalties for convicted felons found in possession of firearms, criticizing light sentences and probation in such cases.
“That individual should not have a gun,” he said.
Officer O, 37, joined the Maui Police Department in 2020. She previously served in the Kīhei Patrol District and transferred to Wailuku in 2021. She was a member of the department’s Honor Guard and received a Certificate of Merit for her work during the 2023 Upcountry wildfires.
“She was the finest of us. That is not an understatement,” Pelletier said. “She helped out wherever she could. I don’t know anybody that ever said an unkind thing about her. She was an absolute rising star in this department and this community, and she served with honor and distinction.”
The department is providing mental health support for its personnel, and a growing memorial of flowers, leis and photos has been placed outside the Wailuku police station, according to the report.
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