"I feared for the lives of the police officers because even those in the car were in danger because his truck was continuing to hit the cars," said Dickerson.

Although it's clear the suspect was not giving himself up and continued to smash patrol car as he was surrounded, defense attorney Don Wilkerson says police must act reasonably when using deadly force.

"It does appear that they had the soldier's vehicle cornered.  The question then was anyone's life in danger, or were they subject to bodily injury?" asked Wilkerson.

Honolulu police stand by the three officers who fired their 9mm handguns.

The soldier was pronounced dead at the Queen's Medical Center.

"It appears that the officers acted properly to contain that situation to minimize the danger to the public," said Maj. Richard Robinson.

"I'm very pleased that none of our citizens were hurt while we were trying to neutralize the incident.  They did a good job," said Chief Kealoha.

The soldier has not been publicly identified.  We know he served in Afghanistan, but had been back on Oahu for about a year.

Three officers were injured in the ramming incident.  They were treated and released.

The officers who fired their weapons are on paid administrative leave -- standard procedure after a shooting.