Fatal police shooting ‘terrible day’
A police officer has died after two were shot and another person was hit by a fleeing car in West Auckland.
The two officers were shot at during a routine traffic stop on Reynella Drive, in Massey, about 10.30am yesterday.
A member of the public was also injured after being hit by a vehicle, with two people inside, which fled.
Stuff understands one of the officers was shot in the abdomen and both were taken to Auckland City Hospital, where one has since died.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told a press conference the second officer was shot in the leg and is in a serious condition in hospital. The person hit by the car has minor injuries.
He said a long-barrelled firearm was used by the offender, and police earlier confirmed they ‘‘opened fire on our staff’’, who were both unarmed.
A large number of armed officers searched for the two people who fled in the car, who remain on the run. It’s understood they have since changed vehicle.
Coster said: ‘‘This is a shocking situation, it is the worst news police and police families can receive.
‘‘This is a terrible day for us . . . any death of an officer is an absolute tragedy.
‘‘It unfolded very quickly and occurred during routine policing.’’
He said the entire police force was in shock after losing a ‘‘colleague and friend’’ of police wha¯ nau.
Police’s priority was to support officers and locate the offender ‘‘as soon as possible’’.
Coster said any person with a firearm was dangerous but added: ‘‘I don’t think the general public need to be concerned at this time.’’
President of the Police Association Chris Cahill said his thoughts were with the families of both officers.
‘‘Policing involves all sorts of activities, but there is always some risk.’’
Cahill said there was still debate on whether this incident strengthened the call to arm police.
‘‘Clearly that will be a debate, but that’s a debate for the future.
‘‘It’s really important we take time to understand what’s happened, before that debate is held,’’ he said.
Police Minister Stuart Nash said the death was ‘‘absolutely devastating news – not what any of us expected to be doing today’’.
‘‘This was a man who dedicated his career to keeping us safe . . . we are absolutely gutted,’’ Nash said.
Elaine Tainela, who lives near Reynella Drive, was at home when she heard three popping noises.
Her father’s friend arrived soon after and described seeing a police officer on the ground and another officer hunched over.
Tainela told Stuff the area was usually a safe and quiet neighbourhood. ‘‘Everyone’s a bit shocked, nothing like this has happened before.’’
Resident Justin Nicholas said he heard five or six gun shots in quick succession before he saw police storming up the road shortly after. ‘‘It was pretty scary.’’
Eric Lew, who lives nearby, told TVNZ he heard a noise and ‘‘bang, bang, bang three times’’ before he saw police and ambulances.
Another resident understood road workers helped the injured officers.
Caleb Mellor, who lives nearby, said he heard several rapid gun shots followed by the sound of people yelling around the time the officers were shot.
Shortly after the shooting he heard a commanding voice yell ‘‘get the f... down’’ repeatedly.
A man at the scene, who declined to be named, said he arrived after several of his family members who live inside the cordon called him and said they had been held at gunpoint by police.
He understood they were now at a police station.
‘‘I’m just worried about him,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, drone footage of the street shows a car crash involving three vehicles.
It also shows lifesaving medical equipment near where the shooting happened.
Six detectives and several more officers are now focussing their attention on a cordoned-off area near the corner of Reynella Drive and Ganolly Ave.
Detectives from the Waitemata¯ district are interviewing neighbours as officers with Bushmaster rifles stand guard.
Officers escorted a distressed young woman and a young man from the scene to a waiting police car shortly after noon.
They accompanied police willingly.
Cordons are in place and eight schools and many businesses in the area were advised to lock down.
Members of the public have been asked to avoid the Massey area, in particular the areas around Don Buck Rd, Waimumu Rd, Hewlitt Rd and Triangle Rd.
Henderson police station, which is the closest station to the incident, has armed officers stationed outside and people have been told to visit other stations if they need to speak to an officer.
A spokeswoman for St John Ambulance said three people were taken to hospital, one in a critical condition, one in a serious condition and one in a moderate condition.
Before yesterday’s incident, 32 police officers had been killed in the line of duty since 1890, the most recent of which was Len Snee in January 2009.
Snee was shot dead by Jan Molenaar while executing a routine search warrant at Molenaar’s Napier home, in an incident that became known as the Napier Siege.