Hawaii police shoot, kill rifle-wielding woman

PAHOA — Big Island police shot and killed a woman who refused to let go of a rifle.

Hawaii County police Maj. Sam Thomas says officers were checking on a car parked on a Hawaiian Beaches road with hazard lights flashing Tuesday morning.

Thomas says the officers determined there was an outstanding bench warrant for the woman.

Police say in a news release she refused to come out of the car, jumped into the rear of the car and grabbed a rifle. Police say despite orders from officers, she refused to let go of the weapon.

Police say she one of the three officers fired.

She was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center.

Police are investigating. An autopsy will be conducted. The woman’s name hasn’t been released.

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This version corrects that Thomas previously said the vehicle was an SUV and removes a detail he initially said about the woman pointing a gun at the officers. Thomas later said he doesn’t have information that she pointed a gun at them.