Praised cops
still face probe
They were involved in
a fatal shooting in which
the suspect took a hostage
Five Honolulu police officers were honored yesterday for their role in the fatal shooting of a Waipahu man last year, but three of them face possible criminal charges stemming from the incident.
Although more than a year has passed since officers fired an estimated 30 rounds at Ronald Lowery, the city Prosecutor's Office is continuing to review the case. Lowery, 34, died of injuries from multiple gunshot wounds.
The Honolulu Police Department's Internal Affairs Division investigated the case and turned it over to prosecutors in June.
HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu was unable to identify which of the officers face possible charges or give details on what the charges they could face.
Sgt. Russell Komoda, a 23-year HPD veteran, and Sgt. Harold Rabacal, a 16-year veteran, received the Silver Medal of Valor for their part in the shooting.
Officers Hunter Ah Loo, a two-year HPD veteran; Robert Frank II, with four years; and Ryan Matsuda, with 13 years, were awarded Certificates of Merit yesterday.
On Nov. 1, 2003, police began following Lowery after he was seen driving erratically in a stolen car. He then abandoned the car and got into a van driven by a Waianae woman who is his cousin's girlfriend, police said at the time of the incident. A 16-year-old girl known by Lowery was also in the van.
Acting Maj. Gregory Lefcourt of District 8 read a statement at yesterday's ceremony, saying officers were informed that the suspect was possibly armed and had taken a female hostage.
According to the statement, Ah Loo and Rabacal located the van, and Rabacal stopped his car in the front of the van while Ah Loo stopped his vehicle at the rear. They both got out and took cover.
Police said they cornered Lowery on Old Government Road near Plantation Road and the 7-Eleven in Waianae, and the shooting occurred about 5:15 p.m.
According to the statement, Komoda arrived and took cover near Rabacal, who ordered Lowery to surrender peacefully. "Rabacal made every effort to have the situation end without use of force," the statement said.
The suspect fired two shots with a sawed-off shotgun in the direction of Rabacal and Komoda and narrowly missed them, according to the statement. Rabacal and Komoda returned fire. Frank and Matsuda arrived, took positions to fire and provided cover.
The suspect then rammed the van into Rabacal's vehicle, knocking Rabacal to the ground, the statement said. Komoda and Ah Loo again fired at the suspect, while Frank and Matsuda provided cover.
Matsuda approached the suspect after the gunfire ended and pulled Lowery from the vehicle, the statement read.
One of the officers received minor injuries from flying glass.
Lowery, who had 16 convictions, mostly for misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors, had crystal methamphetamine in his system, police said.
The officers were praised at yesterday's ceremony for "acting with courage and sacrifice, putting the welfare of the public above their own."
Witnesses, however, said the van was not speeding when police stopped it, and police had endangered the community by confronting Lowery in front of their homes.
