Review: Police shooting justified

LIHUE — Following a Kauai Police Department investigation, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has concluded its review of the police-involved shooting of Mason Saio on Aug. 16.

“The OPA declined to file criminal charges against the officers involved based on the finding that, at the time they opened fire, the officers were justified because they acted in self-defense or were defending other officers,” said a county press release.

Saio disobeyed repeated verbal commands to drop his gun and step out of his car, and he pointed a loaded rifle at the officers, the release said. Saio then threw that rifle in the direction of the officers and pointed a loaded shotgun at the officers.

Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry thanked the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney “for conducting an unbiased and detailed examination of the facts and evidence of the shooting in reaching their decisions.”

“But I want to be clear that this was a tragedy for everyone involved,” he said in a release. “Unfortunately, our officers were placed on an untenable position to respond with deadly force to protect themselves from death or serious bodily injury.”

Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar stated: “We offer our sincere condolences to the Saio family. We understand it is very difficult for them to lose a family member. We also thank the officers involved for their patience as we conducted our review. We are grateful that none of them were injured or killed in what was an incredibly dangerous situation.”