HPD PHOTO
This sawed-off shotgun was used against HPD officers in a shootout in Waianae on Saturday.
Police chief backs
officers in shootingLee Donohue says lives
were threatened in Saturday’s
fatal incident in Waianae
Police officers acted properly when they fired at least 30 rounds at a man who shot a sawed-off shotgun at them Saturday, Honolulu police Chief Lee Donohue said yesterday.
CORRECTION
Tuesday, Nov. 4 2003>> A shotgun-wielding man shot to death by police Saturday has been identified as Ronald Lowery. His last name was misspelled as Lawry in some editions of yesterday's paper.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com."We believe our officers handled the situation in the way they were trained to," Donohue said during a press conference. "First of all, there's a threat to the community, and there's a threat to the officers. This person is firing at our officers, and we're trained to stop the threat."
Police said the 34-year-old suspect had a history of drug use, was on parole and had 16 convictions, including three felonies for escape and weapons violations.
The man was identified by witnesses as Ronald Lawry, who had no permanent address. An autopsy will be conducted today.
The shooting occurred at about 5:15 p.m. Saturday behind the 7-Eleven near Old Government Road and Farrington Highway. According to police and witnesses, when police pulled over a silver van on Old Government Road, Lawry fired at police, who returned fire, killing him.
The case has been turned over to the Homicide Detail. Police Internal Affairs is also investigating the incident, involving three officers who are stationed at Waianae.
HPD PHOTO
One of two subsidized HPD vehicles shows damage to its window from the shooting in Waianae on Saturday.
A 43-year-old officer with 15 years of service sustained minor injuries to his arm from flying glass when the window of his sport utility vehicle was shot out. He was placed on injury leave. The other two, a 24-year-old with 11 months of service and a 47-year-old with 22 years of service, have been placed on administrative leave.
Earlier Saturday, an officer noticed the driver of a green Dodge Neon on Farrington Highway crossing the solid lines several times. He ran a check on the license plate and found it was stolen, police said.
Police had received calls of a green car driving erratically and speeding on Farrington Highway.
The car drove into the Waianae Market parking lot, where the officer approached the car. The suspect fled, and the officer chased but lost the vehicle.
A man told police the suspect was armed and now in a silver van with two women. Two officers found the van on Old Government Road, approached the vehicle and ordered the suspect to come out.
At that time, Lawry drove toward the officers, causing them to jump out of the way, police said.
The suspect refused, moved into the driver's seat and shot at least twice at officers, who returned fire, killing Lawry, according to police and witnesses.
Donohue said the two female occupants of the van knew the gunman, but he did not know their relationship to him.
Witnesses told police it appeared the suspect forced a 16-year-old girl into the van.
The girl told police she tried to leave the suspect when police pursued them, but he held her against her will, police said.
One woman said her 25-year-old niece had parked her van at the market when the gunman forced her back in.
She said Lawry was her niece's boyfriend's cousin.
