Posted on: Wednesday, June 20, 2001

Officer who shot man in Mililani cleared of possible charges

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

A police officer who shot and wounded a man in a construction area in Mililani in January will not be charged with any crime in connection with the incident, the city prosecutor's office announced yesterday.

Kelly Donnarumma, who was riding a motorcycle, was wounded in the neck Jan. 14 after a police officer pursued him to the end of Meheula Parkway.

Donnarumma was shot after reaching into a backpack for what the officer thought was a handgun.

A search of the backpack later showed it contained a cellular telephone and, according to police, a number of illegal items, including drugs and related paraphernalia.

Donnarumma was charged with unauthorized use of a propelled vehicle, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and promotion of a detrimental drug in the third degree.

A statement from the prosecutor's office said its decision not take any action against the officer who shot Donnarumma was based on its review of police department internal affairs reports, a statement from Donnarumma and its own investigation.

Stuart Fujioka, Donnarumma's lawyer for civil matters, had no comment on the announcement by the prosecutor's office.

"I'm aware they are not going to press criminal charges against the officer involved," Fujioka said. "I don't know what evidence they considered. I am not privy to the investigative files."