Key Highlights
- A man named Robert Morris barricaded himself in his house after being involved in a shootout with law enforcement.
- Morris live-streamed his situation on Facebook, acknowledging he had shot at police and asked for his family to be flown from Kauaʻi in exchange for surrendering.
- The standoff began when an officer was shot during the execution of a federal narcotics search warrant involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
- Robert Morris has a criminal history, including previous convictions for selling meth and weapons charges.
Background on the Standoff
A 50-year-old man identified as Robert Morris is currently barricaded in his house in Kapahulu, Honolulu, after being involved in a shootout with law enforcement. The incident began just before noon when an officer was shot while executing a federal narcotics search warrant as part of a task force including the DEA.
Morris has been livestreaming his situation on Facebook for over 7 hours, providing detailed accounts of the events and his thoughts during the standoff. He acknowledged shooting at police and even listened to anti-police rap music in one of his videos.
Live-Stream Details
In his Facebook live-streams, Morris described the events leading up to his situation in detail. According to him, around 9 a.m., police officers arrived at his house while he was eating breakfast and broke a window. Morris responded by shooting back at them.
“They came this morning, they pounding on my door.
They broke my window and I shoot back at them,”
Morris has a history of drug trafficking, having been convicted in 2008 for selling methamphetamine and various weapons charges. He was sentenced to 81 months in prison before being admitted to a residential treatment program upon his release.
Community Impact and Negotiations
The standoff has affected the local community significantly. Multiple blocks have been closed off, and residents were forced to seek shelter at nearby locations due to police presence. One resident who arrived home from an overnight flight in Tokyo said she was unable to get inside her house as the entrance had been blocked.
“I was hoping to take a nap,”
Morris has expressed concern for his family, particularly his mother, asking for her to be flown from Kauaʻi so he could give her a hug before surrendering. He also admitted that he might not survive the current situation and expressed feelings of hopelessness about his future upon release.
