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MPD: ATF agent’s death ‘accidental’

A Maui-based federal agent died Tuesday after he was accidentally shot in the line of duty, according to an initial investigation by police.

John Bost III, a special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, was assigned to Maui County and had worked closely with the Maui Police Department since 2015, according to a news release Friday.

An initial investigation by MPD found that Bost “died from a wound received from the accidental discharge of a rifle” in the department’s Kihei Division. ATF, MPD and the Maui County Medical Examiner’s officer are continuing to investigate his death.

Bost, a North Carolina native, had been a special agent since November 2005 and served as a Charlotte police officer before joining the ATF.

“John will be remembered as an outstanding special agent, greatly admired and respected by all who knew him,” ATF and MPD said in the joint news release. “He was deeply committed to ATF’s mission of safeguarding our communities from violent criminals, and will be profoundly missed.”

Bost is survived by parents and other family members in North Carolina, where his body will return with full honors to be laid to rest.

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