Man killed after machete threat
Police are defending the actions of an officer who shot and killed a man in Porirua who was approaching in a threatening manner with a machete in hand.
The 44-year-old man was shot once in the shoulder about 12.30am yesterday and died in an ambulance on his way to Wellington Hospital.
The acting district commander for Wellington, Superintendent Steve Kehoe, said the male officer fired the fatal shot at Mana Esplanade.
The officer was receiving support, Kehoe said.
The incident had its origins in Waikanae, about 35 kilometres north of Porirua about 90 minutes before the shooting. Police responded to a domestic incident.
After officers arrived, the man left the scene by car, heading south.
He was spotted by police, shortly before the shooting happened.
Kehoe said the man approached the police car with a machete in hand and threatened an officer, before being shot.
The shooting, which was also witnessed by another police officer, took place next to the Mana community police station and in a seafront service lane which runs parallel to Mana Esplanade.
Kehoe said using a firearm was always treated as a ‘‘last resort’’ by officers.
‘‘This was a dynamic, confronting and dangerous situation. The information I have is that the staff acted professionally, appropriately, and in accordance with policy,’’ Kehoe said.
‘‘On that basis, the staff have my 100 per cent backing and support.’’
When asked why a Taser was not used, Kehoe said that question would form part of multiple inquiries, including one by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
As well as recovering a machete, an air rifle was also found in the man’s vehicle.
Neighbours at a nearby apartment block were unable to leave through their front doors yesterday morning, as police carried out a scene examination in the busy entertainment and business area.
Maddy Honiss was at the nearby beach with friends when she heard sirens.
She spoke to police at the scene, one of whom told her ‘‘only the bad guy got hurt’’.
Honiss said the incident had been scary and wondered whether police needed to take such extreme action.
Neighbour Bronnie Lyne said she was woken by sirens from the emergency vehicles.
She looked outside and saw paramedics taking the man away in an ambulance.
Lyne believed he was still alive at the time.