BREAKING: Federal Agent Dies at Kīhei Police Station on Maui, Incident Ruled Accidental Line of Duty Death

Maui Police Department Kīhei Station. Bottom photo by Wendy Osher.  Top photo file by Tony Earles/Maui Police Department.

By Wendy Osher

Officials have ruled the death of a federal law enforcement agent on Maui as an accidental line of duty death.  Special Agent John Bost III died July 28 at the Kīhei Police station, where he was employed with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

An initial investigation by the Maui Police Department indicates that he died from a wound received from the accidental discharge of a rifle in the Maui Police Department’s Kīhei Division office, federal officials tell Maui Now.

ATF, the Maui Police Department and Maui County Medical Examiner’s office are conducting further investigations into his death.

Jason Chuddy, Public Information Officer with the US Department of Justice, ATF field division in Seattle said the agency received the medical examiners report on Thursday.

Chuddy said Bost was a native of North Carolina and had been a special agent since November 2005.  He had served as a Charlotte police officer before joining ATF.  Bost was assigned to Maui County and worked closely with the Maui Police Department since 2015.

“To all at the Maui Police Department, Bost was more than an Agent and co-worker, he was a friend, he was family,” said Chuddy who expressed sadness over the death.

“John will be remembered as an outstanding special agent, greatly admired and respected by all who knew him. He was deeply committed to ATF’s mission of safeguarding our communities from violent criminals, and will be profoundly missed,” said Chuddy in an email communication with Maui Now.

Bost is survived by parents and other family members in North Carolina, where he will return with full honors to be laid to rest.