South Hilo Patrol officers responded to a reported domestic at a residence on Mokuhonua Lane in Hilo. As officers arrived and contacted the occupants of the residence to investigate, Santos emerged from a back room of the residence with a semi-automatic rifle and began firing at officers. The officers were able to retreat, as fired multiple shots at officers and their marked police vehicles from two semi-automatic rifles and one officer was able to return fire and struck the Santos.
Police and responding paramedics performed CPR on Santos; however, he expired at the scene.
During the course of this incident, a 91-year-old relative of the suspect appeared to go into cardiac arrest. He was transported by medics to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room, where he was later pronounced dead.
There were no reported injuries to other persons within the residence, surrounding neighbors, or the responding officers.
On Tuesday morning, June 15, 2021, autopsies were performed on Santos and on his 91-year-old grandfather. The pathologist determined that Santos died from a single gunshot wound to the left shoulder area. The final autopsy report is pending toxicology results.
Santos’ grandfather died from an acute heart attack which he suffered during the course of this incident.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this attempted first-degree murder investigation.
Police ask anyone who may have information about this incident to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective John Balberde of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2386 or via email at John.Balberde@hawaiicounty.gov.
CAUTION: This video contains scenes of violence and strong language that some may find disturbing.
This is body cam footage released Tuesday by the Hawaii Police Department. The footage is from the body cam worn by the officer who was involved in the June 13, 2021, fatal shooting of Ryan Y. Santos in Hilo.
Auto starts at :30
Gun warning at :36
The first shot from the suspect at 1:03
Return fire from the officer with cam 2:50
Duration 4:37