Family of man shot dead in rampage not angry at police

The family of a man shot dead by police at the weekend say they are not angry at the officer who pulled the trigger and have confidence the incident was dealt with professionally.

And it has emerged the man’s partner was the first to call 111 when he started his machete-wielding rampage through the Papatoetoe street where they lived.

Hitesh Lal, 43, was shot by a police officer in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He had left his home on Central

Ave just after 1am and was damaging cars and property with the machete and trying to cut power lines as he made his way along the road.

His partner called 111 followed by 12 terrified residents.

Lal also called 111, telling police he would “f**king kill anyone that comes my way”.

A police dog handler was first on the scene and found Lal smashing his way into the home of a family with young children.

The officer repeatedly told Lal to stop and drop the weapon.

Lal refused and started advancing on the officer, who shot him.

Lal died at the scene. Police, the Coroner and the Independent Police Conduct Authority are all investigating.

Lal’s cousin Rajiv Raja yesterday told the Herald the family were not angry at the police.

“There has been a lot of thing said on social media about this,” he said of posts questioning the officer’s actions, experience and whether Lal could have been incapacitated using a Taser or other methods.

“I don’t want to [speculate] because I don’t know all the details . . . but police told his partner he was basically advancing forward and refusing to put the knife down.

“If you don’t put the knife down, if you don’t do what you are told — these things will happen.”

Raja has lived in New Zealand for 30 years and said had never had an issue with the police.

“They are very professional here, I have faith in our police,” he said.

“Sometimes they may not get it right, but when they tell you to do something, you just have to do it.”

Lal’s body was returned to his family yesterday and a funeral would be held next week after the national lockdown restrictions are relaxed.

Raja said Lal’s partner was utterly devastated by his death.

“I saw her yesterday and she was really crying . . . she looks like she is a broken person,” he said.

“She is very, very, very broken, very hurt, very upset.”

Raja believed his cousin “just snapped” after a heated argument with his stepbrother in Fiji.