Victim of assault, a ‘well-liked’ employee and father of three
The victim of a serious assault outside an auto repair shop in Lower Hutt is a father of three young children and a “well-liked” staff member.
The young mechanic was working on his own and closing up at Taitā Auto Repairs when he was reportedly attacked by three offenders on Monday evening, his employer, who asked not to be named, said.
The mechanic, in his early-30s, was left critically injured following the serious assault on Tocker St. He remained in Wellington Hospital in stable condition yesterday.
It was believed to be a “targeted incident”, police said, and they were continuing to search for three offenders.
The owner of Taitā Auto Repairs said the mechanic had been working at his store for about seven years and was “well-liked”.
He had three young children with his wife. “I’m extremely shocked – we all are.” Dozens of people had come into the mechanics to show their support and the owner was fundraising to help support the young family.
Meanwhile, the owner of Super Save Taitā, across the road, was collecting donations from the community to give to the mechanic’s family. Owner Shane, who did not want his full name used, said he did not see the incident unfold but saw police cars arriving in the afternoon. It was the first of two incidents in the area in two days. They were not believed to be linked, police said.
A scene examination was taking place at a Taitā property, further down the road, where police spent 10 hours in a stand-off with a man on Tuesday, reported as being armed with a firearm.
Police cordoned off a section of High
St, between De Menech Gr and Mabey Rd following a report of the man with three other occupants at an address about 9.30am.
Three nearby schools went into lockdown while some neighbouring residents of the property were evacuated from their homes as the Armed Offenders Squad and the Police Negotiation Team squad engaged with the man over the course of the day.
The other three occupants were able to leave the address unharmed about 10.30am and lockdowns lifted at Naenae Intermediate, Naenae College and Avalon Intermediate.
Just before 8pm, police entered the address and the man was taken into custody.