Department of Education Recaps Shooting Incident on Oʻahu

Honolulu Police Department, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

Students from Roosevelt High on Oʻahu were released from school at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, following a shooting incident involving an officer and a 17-year-old reported “runaway.”

According to information released by the Department of Education, a lockdown was implemented on campus at 8:30 a.m. when two police officers arrived to escort the teen off campus.

DOE officials described the male as a “non-active student registered at Roosevelt High.”

“Upon seeing the police officers, the male became combative and brandished a knife, which he used to slash at the officers,” according to information released by the Honolulu Police Department and detailed by the DOE.  “One of the officers fired two shots, striking the male once. The male was taken to a hospital in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries,” officials said.

According to the DOE, an emergency call system was used to notify parents of the lockdown.  Students were released early due to the incident, but DOE official say school will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 29, as scheduled.

“Incidents like this are very rare in Hawaiʻi, however, our partnership with the Honolulu Police Department on safety drills played a major role in the success of today’s lockdown,” said Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi in a department press release.

“I commend Roosevelt High staff and students for their diligence in following safety protocols, as well as police officers for quickly bringing the situation under control. I also want to thank parents for their patience and understanding during the incident,” she said.

Complex Area Superintendent Ruth Silberstein also commented saying, “Today’s situation was handled in a manner that caused the least disruption on campus and it is a testament to our teachers, faculty and students.”

DOE officials say the student body at Roosevelt High, which includes an estimated 1,390 individuals, will have supports and counselors available when classes resume.