The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s office has released the identities of two men who were fatally shot by Honolulu police officers in separate incidents this week.

Dana Brown, 27, of Kapolei was shot and killed at Campbell Industrial Park around 1 a.m. Tuesday after a patrol officer observed him traveling the wrong way on a moped that was reported stolen.

Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said Tuesday at a news briefing that he was wielding a knife and lunged at the officer. The patrol officer deployed a Taser gun twice before drawing his service weapon, but the electric gun appeared to have no effect on Brown, she said.

The day before, Dustin Spencer, 34, was fatally shot after an across-town police pursuit involving several officers and a police helicopter that ended at a car dealership in Kalihi.

Spencer and another suspect were being pursued because police had received a report that they were wearing ski masks at a Pearl City Sam’s Club parking lot, the police chief said Monday.

The medical examiner’s office said no further details could be released at this time.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser first reported on their identities.

Ballard said Brown had two misdemeanor convictions and was wanted on a bench warrant in connection with an abuse of a family member charge. Spencer had two felony convictions, she said.

What it means to support Civil Beat.

Supporting Civil Beat means you’re investing in a newsroom that can devote months to investigate corruption. It means we can cover vulnerable, overlooked communities because those stories matter. And, it means we serve you. And only you.

Donate today and help sustain the kind of journalism Hawaiʻi cannot afford to lose.

About the Author