Shootout near kids terrifies mother
Tauranga residents say it was “bloody lucky” no one was hurt when a man wanted in connection with a double homicide fired up to 20 shots out a car window as police gave chase.
Families were out walking on Thursday night and children playing at a local school when a wanted man started firing at officers. He was killed when police returned fire.
It came two days after two men were shot dead at a property near McLaren Falls.
One resident said locals were in fear. They were worried for their mokopuna and schools in the area: “Something needs to be done. It’s scary.”
Another resident said she was disturbed that her two sons were riding their bikes as the fleeing gunman exchanged shots with police. The mother, who did not want to be named, said her sons were returning home about
7.40pm when the shooting happened in front of them on Carmichael Rd in Bethlehem.
One son hid behind a parked car, while his brother stood and watched the drama.
“It was all very scary and too close to home,” she said.
The pursuit started after police spotted a car wanted in relation to Tuesday’s shootings in which Paul Lasslett, 43, and Nick Littlewood, 32, died.
District commander Superintendent Andy McGregor said police followed the car with lights and sirens but it did not stop.
On Carmichael Rd, the driver leaned out and fired a “volley of shots”. Officers held their distance in the pursuit, which lasted about seven minutes.
“At one stage [he] actually stopped the vehicle, got out, and took deliberate aim at the police vehicle and fired another volley of shots.”
He then turned left on to State Highway 2 towards the Tauranga CBD and fired more shots. Near the intersection of State Highway
2 and Fifteenth Ave, the driver fired again but police returned fire, killing him.
The fatal shooting comes as police increase their presence after growing gang rivalry in the district.
Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell said he was “very concerned” about an innocent member of the public becoming collateral damage in the gang turf wars.
Although police were doing a “stunning” job in difficult conditions, shots had been fired in a public area.
“The weapons that are being used have a maximum effective range of 500m to 600m . . . a bullet that’s got long range and can do a lot of damage.”
Meanwhile, armed police arrested a 25-year-old man in New Brighton, Christchurch, yesterday. He was believed to have known the man shot dead in the pursuit.