Friends and family members are mourning a 21-year-old Kalaheo man who was fatally shot by Kauai police after the man allegedly pointed a shotgun at them.
Dozens posted messages of condolences on Facebook for Mason Saio, who died Friday of multiple gunshot wounds.
At about 10:40 that night, police said, four officers were conducting routine checks at the Nawiliwili Harbor jetty area when they saw Saio in a parked 2011 Chevy Cavalier sedan holding two firearms, a .223-caliber assault rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun.
Officers told him to drop the weapons, according to a news release from the Kauai Police Department. Saio allegedly threw the rifle out of the car and held onto the shotgun.
According to police, officers repeatedly told Saio to drop the shotgun, then shot him when he pointed it their way.
He died at the scene.
Citing the ongoing investigation, police declined to disclose how many shots were fired.
One of the four officers has been with the Police Department eight years, a second four years, and the other two just eight months. As standard procedure, all have been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
Saio’s parents, Bill and Lei Saio, told KHON television Sunday they want to know exactly what happened.
"We hear only one side of it, but there were many people there. It’s just not a good feeling that I’m feeling right now. It’s just uneasy. It’s hard to think, hard to sleep, hard to do anything to function," Lei Saio said.
Saio’s brother, Kody Lee Saio, wrote on his Facebook page that Saio was always there to support him and his family.
"You took good care of us when we needed you," he wrote. "I miss you … We miss you."
Saio was scheduled to appear at Kauai Circuit Court this Monday for a second trial in a robbery case.
A trial in December ended in a hung jury. He was accused of being involved in a robbery at the Koloa Chevron.
