Hawaii Cop Killer Manhunt: FBI Offers $10,000 Reward For Information

The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect who shot and killed an officer at a traffic stop in Big Island, Hawaii, on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old suspect, Justin Waiki, has three previous felony convictions for possessing a prohibited weapon, promoting dangerous drugs, and forgery, FBI said to Houston Chronicle on Wednesday. He had a no-bail warrant out for his arrest along with 13 other convictions.

The police had pulled Waiki over because they knew he was wanted, said Big Island Police Chief Paul Ferreira to Hawaii News Now. When they approached the vehicle, Waiki got out and fired at least five shots with a handgun, hitting 46-year-old Bronson K. Kaliloa in his neck and leg Tuesday night.

Two out of the other three officers at the scene shot back at Waiki, but he managed to escape on foot in the largely rural area of Mountain View, located about 15 miles south of Hilo.

Kaliloa was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries early Wednesday.

"Nowadays, traffic stops and domestic violence calls are the most dangerous things an officer can become involved in because you never know what you're going to encounter," Hawaii News Now law enforcement expert Tommy Aiu said. "It could be a simple ticket turned more deadly or dangerous."

The incident led to a heavy response from police officers in Puna. The officers shut down Highway 11, Kukui Camp Road, North Kulani Road and Ala Loop. Witnesses said around 50 police cars and armored vehicles responded to the area a little while after the shooting, Hawaii News Now reported.

"I was driving up the road and I seen lights and then I saw a lot of lights and then I pulled over to turn around, but I thought it was a car accident and I'm medically trained so I was going to offer to help," Paul Klink, a witness, said.

Big Island’s entire police force of 400 members, including off-duty officers, officers on vacation and days off, has joined the search for Waiki as of Wednesday night.

Waiki, last known to be living in Las Vegas, had prior addresses at Big Island, police spokesman Alan Richmond said adding the suspect was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and a dark jacket. He didn’t know if the suspect was injured in the gunfire exchange. Waiki is described as being 5-foot-10 tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds.

Kaliloa was a 1990 graduate of Kauai's Waimea High School. He had been married for 23 years and left behind a wife, two sons and a daughter. He was transferred to Puna in 2010 and in 2014, he was recognized as the “Officer of the year”, Big Island Police Chief Ferreira said.

"This has been the worst event in my career," Ferreira said, "This was an officer, a father, a son, a husband. Put a face to the name. … We will persevere. We will do what we need to do."

Hawaii Governor David Ige extended his condolences to family and colleagues of Kaliloa. He urged people to honor Kaliloa and all law enforcement officers for their bravery and service adding that Kaliloa, a highly regarded 10-year police department veteran, would be greatly missed.