Dash-cam footage may hold clues
Police still searching for gun in tourist shooting death
Waikato police investigating the shooting death of an Australian tourist are calling for sightings of a man seen hitchhiking on the outskirts of Hamilton.
And Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley says police are still on the hunt for the weapon used in the incident during the early hours of Friday morning. Sean McKinnon was shot in the rented campervan he and his partner, Bianca Buckley, were
sleeping in at Te Toto Gorge. Buckley managed to escape on foot, running about 2km to a nearby home for help.
McKinnon’s body was eventually found in his rented camper van at Gordonton, north of Hamilton, at 8am on Friday, just over five hours after he was allegedly shot.
The 33-year-old had been on a surfing holiday with his Canadian fiancee Buckley.
While police have arrested and charged a man with McKinnon’s murder, Pitkethley said they were still piecing together what happened and were keen to hear from anyone who may have seen a man hitchhiking in the Gordonton-Whitikahu area on Friday. In particular, they want to hear from motorists who have may have caught footage on their dashcam. Several people commented on social media about seeing a man acting suspiciously in the area on Friday morning.
Lawrence Wallis told the Herald his wife told him they could see a large police presence at the Whitikahu Hall on Friday. He said his 8-year-old also saw a man hitchhiking past their house on Whitikahu Rd about 4.30pm. Wallis said in hindsight, it was “pretty scary to think he walked right past our gate“.
Pitkethley said police are still looking for the weapon involved but he wanted to assure the public that the community was safe. “Officers have also been conducting reassurance patrols in the Raglan and Gordonton areas to ensure the public is safe and feels safe.”
They were now working with the coroner to return McKinnon’s body to his family in accordance with their wishes. McKinnon grew up around Warrnambool in Victoria’s southwest. The pair got engaged around Christmas 2017, according to their social media.
McKinnon’s sister, Emmeline, said he was a world traveller who lived for surfing, friends and family.
“He did everything with a smile. He was devastatingly handsome and a caring, sensitive young man, even as a boy. He would always tell you he loved you and would give you a hug.”