 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COMThe Honolulu Police Department Specialized Services Division prepared to move into position yesterday after a man barricaded himself in a home on Aukahi Street in Kapolei. CLICK FOR LARGE |
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Standoff ends with man found dead
The victim apparently committed suicide after talks broke off
A domestic violence call yesterday turned into an eight-hour standoff, defused after an apparent suicide.
About 8:40 a.m., police received a call about a domestic issue at the 91-1000 block of Aukahi Street in Kapolei. The wife had called police, who later learned that her 52-year-old husband had barricaded himself inside their two-story home and was suicidal.
The Honolulu Police Department's Specialized Services Division arrived at the scene about 10:30 a.m. with about 20 officers equipped with body armor, ballistic shields, assault rifles and an armored personnel carrier borrowed from the Hawaii National Guard.
The husband at one point called the wife and told her he wanted the police to leave.
Police Capt. Alan Bluemke said initial reports indicated the husband had numerous weapons, but police recovered only a single handgun after the incident.
"Negotiations continued out through the day," Bluemke said. "At about 3:45 p.m., negotiations had broken off, and a single gunshot was heard."
 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COMA domestic violence call turned into an eight-hour barricade situation in Kapolei yesterday, which ended with an apparent suicide. Police and a military armored personnel carrier were called to the scene. CLICK FOR LARGE |
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Police sent in a robot to investigate before deploying the armored personnel carrier and several armored police units into the house. About 4:40 p.m., the husband was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Emergency medical officials pronounced the man dead at 4:50 p.m. Family members wept from grief after receiving the news.
Police evacuated five homes in the area, which was blocked off to several residents until the situation was over.
"Because we had reason to believe he had firearms in the house, we needed to mitigate the situation to make sure nobody got hurt," said police Capt. Frank Fujii, stressing that the several officers were assigned to ensure the safety of nearby residents.
Residents of the sleepy Kapolei Village area were awakened or came home from work to dozens of armed police officers patrolling the streets. Children grew excited at the sight of combat-ready officers, while neighbors took photos and chatted about the developments.
