Man fatally shot by police is identified
Anna Leask
Community sources have identified the man shot dead by police north of Auckland on Saturday as Jerrim Marshall Toms, of Onehunga.
The 29-year-old died just before 4am on State Highway 1 near Puhoi after he allegedly confronted police with a machete.
Police have not released his name at the request of his family, who wanted it to remain private until after his funeral.
However several sources in the community got in touch with the Herald to identify Toms.
When contacted by the Herald, Toms’ family refused to comment.
Multiple investigations are under way into Toms’ death.
Detective Inspector John Sutton confirmed yesterday evening that police had met the man’s family and updated them about the investigation, including discussing the preliminary findings of the post mortem examination.
“While initial indications are that drugs may be a factor, it is unclear what led this man to behave in such a way,” Sutton said.
“Police hope to answer this for the family and all concerned.”
Sutton said the man’s family had been told “the investigation will search out and deliver to them the many answers they seek”.
He added: “Police are committed to undertaking a thorough and transparent investigation. Additionally, the Independent Police Conduct Author- ity will carry out their own investigation and ultimately the matter is heard in the coroner’s court.”
Sutton said speculation about the case was not helpful to the police.
Among other things, it had been suggested to the Herald that Toms had a rubber weapon rather than a machete and that he was shot as he walked away from officers during the confrontation.
“Police can confirm that the man shot had a real machete and had walked towards the armed officers before being shot at close range,” Sutton said.
“There is still much to learn about the incident and the contributing factors to it; speculating in social and media forums does not enable the public to have a clear picture.”
The drama began when police were called to an Onehunga address just after 3am on Saturday by a woman reporting that a person known to her was acting erratically. She left the scene because she feared for her safety.
It is now understood that the woman was a relative of Toms, who is listed as living at the same Onehunga address that police were called to.
Toms was shot after the car in which he had sped away from a rural police officer down State Highway 1 was stopped by spikes near Mahurangi West Rd about 3.50am. Police say they fired after Toms advanced with a machete. He died at the scene. A date for Toms’ funeral is yet to be announced.