Honolulu is on edge as the city’s top prosecutor prepares to announce Friday whether he will file criminal charges against police officers involved in an October shooting outside The Queen’s Medical Center that left a man dead. The decision, expected at 11 a.m., has cranked up pressure on how the city handles officer-involved shootings, with families, civil-rights advocates and police themselves all waiting to see which way this one goes.
Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm is set to reveal his decision at a late-morning news conference, according to Hawaii News Now. The station reports it will cover the announcement live and follow up on any charges or next steps Alm lays out.
What Happened in October
On Oct. 2, 2025, Honolulu police responded to reports of a man outside Queen’s Medical Center who was expressing suicidal thoughts and allegedly had a firearm, according to Civil Beat. Officers said the man pulled a handgun, pointed it at them and was then shot by police. He was rushed into the hospital for treatment but was later pronounced dead. Investigators recovered what police described as a revolver-type firearm at the scene.
Interim Police Chief Rade Vanic told reporters that the incident was captured on both body-worn cameras and surveillance video, material that is now central to Alm’s review.
Who the Man Was
Hawaii News Now identified the man as 50-year-old Sonny Siofele and reported that he had four prior criminal convictions, including a felony assault on a police officer. Police told reporters that Siofele appeared suicidal and pointed a gun before officers opened fire…