Murder ruled out in
Laulusa shooting

But police could face
other charges as the city
prosecutor calls
for experts

By Lori Tighe
Star-Bulletin

The police will not be charged with murder for killing Rodney Laulusa, gunned down while flailing butcher knives and lunging at officers six months ago at a Palolo housing project, city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said today.

"It would be impossible to prove the final shots fired were unjustified," Carlisle said in ruling out murder in the controversial case.

On excessive-force charges, however, Carlisle plans to bring in mainland wound-ballistic experts to further examine whether the 20 rounds fired by three officers were necessary.

Also, evidence suggested Laulusa committed "suicide by cop," a practice where an assailant threatens police in hopes he is killed in retaliation in an attention-grabbing showdown, Carlisle said. But he declined to confirm the motive of Laulusa's erratic actions that night in the Palolo Valley Housing.

In a detailed demonstration this morning, Carlisle illustrated how police reacted within their rights under Hawaii law to defend themselves from Laulusa, who refused to drop his knives.

On Jan. 22, Laulusa called 911 at 7:24 p.m. and said, according to transcripts: "Got one guy, he all drunk. He stay by the fire station. He stay (inaudible) pull knife. He's throwing beers at the car. He's wearing maroon and black with black hat."

Officers arrived at the Palolo Valley fire station and didn't find anyone throwing beer bottles. One officer pulled his car down Ahe Street into Palolo Valley Housing.

He found Laulusa jumping and moving "like a boxer," waving two butcher knives that "glinted off the Palolo streetlamps," Carlisle said.

Laulusa told police to just shoot him, while he continued waving the knives, one in each hand.

A semicircle of police officers, with guns drawn, walked toward him, telling Laulusa to drop his knives.

Witnesses heard Laulusa say, "Shoot me, shoot me." An officer reportedly answered, "Put down the knives and then we'll shoot you."

Then witnesses heard an officer count "1-2-3."

Laulusa reportedly said, "Come on, come on."

In the midst of the tension, an acquaintance of Laulusa suggested he put the knives down and walk away. Laulusa told the person to step aside so he wouldn't get hurt. Another friend yelled to Laulusa, "What are you doing?"

"Mr. Laulusa said, 'Let me go, let me go, never mind,'" Carlisle said.

As neighbors begged police not to shoot him, or to just shoot him in the legs, Laulusa lunged at the officers. Three officers opened fire in what Carlisle called a shooting frenzy lasting just seconds.

Questions remain, Carlisle said, including whether officers fired while Laulusa was down. One wound suggests that, he said.

Key evidence includes how long the shooting lasted and locations of the 15 bullet wounds on Laulusa's body in the chest, arms and legs.