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Reward to find suspect in killing of Hawaii police officer now at $30,000

Officer Bronson Kaliloa

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii police believe a suspect wanted in the killing of the first officer to be fatally shot on the Big Island is being hidden by associates.

Justin Waiki is wanted in the fatal shooting of Hawaii County Police Officer Bronson Kaliloa during a traffic stop Tuesday night. Other officers at the scene exchanged fire with the suspect, but it is not known if he was hit.

The shooting occurred in the mostly rural eastern side of the island that has been in the news lately because of the erupting Kilauea volcano.

Maj. Samuel Jelsma says Waiki’s last known address is in Las Vegas, but he has committed previous crimes on the Big Island.

The total reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect is now $30,000.

Hawaii County said Thursday the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has pledged a $10,000 reward.

That’s in addition to two separate pledges of $10,000 from the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Kaliloa was a 10-year veteran of the Big Island police force. He was struck in the neck and leg and died at a hospital early Wednesday.