3-day search for Big Island man accused of shooting officer ends with his death

Hawai‘i Police Department Chief Ben Moszkowicz during a press conference Sunday night laid out the timeline of harrowing events earlier that day that led to the death of 39-year-old Christopher Lucrisia of Mountain View, who was wanted for shooting a Big Island police officer at the end of last week.

Charges also were officially filed against Silas Zion, who was identified as the driver of the getaway pickup truck that helped Lucrisia flee after shooting the Hawai‘i Police Department East Hawai‘i Vice officer and 9-year veteran of the department the morning of March 14 outside a bank in Hilo.

The 23-year-old faces charges of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree hindering prosecution, place to keep pistol and place to keep ammunition.

His bail is set at $3.075 million.

Zion was taken into custody the same day as Lucrisia reportedly shot the officer twice, once in the right forearm and a second time in the head near the top of his skull; however, Lucrisia evaded capture until about 3 p.m. Sunday.

For 3 days, the Big Island was on edge as Hawai’i Police Department personnel, along with partners from neighbor island, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including Honolulu Police Department, Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Marshals Service, searched for Lucrisia.

Authorities zeroed in on him Sunday afternoon when they responded to a location in the 18-1300 block of Ihope Road in Mountain View on the report of a home invasion.

A man, later determined to be Lucrisia, entered a residence and threatened occupants before stealing the keys to a vehicle parked outside. 

Since Zion was taken into custody across the street from the residence, at least a dozen detectives and members of the police department’s Specialized Response Team were already in the area and quickly responded to the home. 

“As they did, Lucrisia, who was armed with a rifle and a pistol and hiding in a vehicle on the property, began firing at the detectives who arrived first,” stated a police press release. “Seconds later, [Specialized Response Team] personnel arrived and established a perimeter. Lucrisia continued firing at officers, and one officer returned fire.”
 
Eventually, Lucrisia stopped firing at officers, and Special Response Team members maintained a perimeter, repeatedly attempting to communicate and negotiate with the Mountain View man. 

It was unknown at the time of the press conference if the weapons in Lucrisia’s possession were registered.

After some time, officers launched an unmanned drone into the area that revealed Lucrisia was unresponsive in the backseat of the vehicle. Medics were called to the scene and determined he was dead. 

“While I’m certainly grateful that no one else was injured, our primary focus was always to bring Lucretia into custody unharmed,” said Moszkowicz during Sunday night’s press conference. “Unfortunately, his own actions prevented that hope from becoming reality.”

Moszkowicz said detectives remained on Ihope Road on Sunday evening to continue their investigations, focused on piecing together where Lucrisia might have been since the shooting incident March 14 in Hilo, and who, if anyone, helped him avoid capture.

The chief added that the officer who fired back at Lucrisia during Sunday afternoon’s shootout in Mountain View is an 18-year veteran with the department who is assigned to the Special Response Team.

That officer was placed on administrative leave, as is standard practice following an officer-involved shooting.

Hawai’i County Mayor Kimo Alameda acknowledged the fear, pain and concern the situation caused the community.

“When violence erupts in our neighborhoods, nobody wins,” said Alameda during Sunday’s press conference. “This has been a tragic and deeply unsettling event. And my heart goes out to everyone who was impacted.”

He extended his thoughts and prayers to the officer who was critically injured in the line of duty.

“His bravery and the bravery of his fellow law enforcement officers from the city and the state to the feds, you know, it reminds us of the incredible risk that they take each and every day to make sure that we’re safe,” the mayor said. “As a community, I want us to continue working together to ensure that our island remains a place where families can walk up and down the street without fear, where we get each other’s backs, you know, and where our law enforcement and the public stand united.”

The officer injured Friday was flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. He is expected to make a full recovery.

The Friends of First Responders, a longtime and trusted partner of the Hawai‘i Police Department, launched a fundraiser for the injured officer in response to a community request to help. 

The fundraiser is to cover short-term expenses as an additional umbrella of protection so the officer’s family can be by his side through this difficult time.

Click here for more information or to donate.