Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Elia S. Laeli
Age : 41
Gender : Male
Race : Black
Date : 08/11/2021
Location : Kapalama Gardens, North School Street
City : Honolulu
County : Honolulu
State : Hawaii
Agency : Honolulu Police Department
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during arrest
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/11/2021, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Honolulu police officers and emergency medical personnel responded to the parking lot of Kapalama Gardens on North School Street after receiving reports that a man had attacked another person with a machete, severing the victim's pinky finger. While emergency crews treated the victim, a witness pointed out 41-year-old Elia Laeli as the attacker. Officers approached Laeli, who was still armed with a machete, and repeatedly ordered him to drop it.
Laeli walked to a parked vehicle, opened the driver's door, then turned back toward the officers while still holding the machete. As officers backed away, Laeli raised the machete over his head and rushed toward the closest officer. Two officers fired their service weapons, striking Laeli multiple times. He was transported to a hospital, where he died. The Medical Examiner later identified him as Elia Laeli, 41, who had no local address.
On 03/23/2022, Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm released the findings of the criminal investigation, along with surveillance video of the shooting. The review concluded that both officers were legally justified in using deadly force after Laeli advanced toward an officer with the machete raised overhead. The investigation found Laeli had methamphetamine and THC in his system and had an outstanding warrant on drug charges at the time of the shooting. Surveillance video showed one officer retreating and stumbling over a concrete parking stop as Laeli closed the distance before the officers fired. The prosecutor declined to file criminal charges.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/08/12/hpd-identifies-man-shot-killed-by-police-school-street/
https://www.khon2.com/local-news/hpd-investigates-officer-involved-shooting-in-kalihi/
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/08/12/breaking-news/honolulu-police-shoot-kill-man-armed-with-machete-in-kalihi/
https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/08/hpd-says-man-shot-to-death-by-officers-was-coming-at-them-with-a-machete/
