Police kill shotgun-toting man Aussies had thrown out
The man shot dead by police during a stand-off in Papatoetoe on Thursday night had been deported from Australia.
Police have identified him as Tangaru-Noere Turia, 34, who died in hospital after being critically wounded.
It emerged last night that Turia had been removed from Australia as a “501” deportee in 2017. The law allows for people convicted or suspected of crimes to be kicked out of the country.
He faced active criminal charges but police have not revealed them.
Superintendent Jill Rogers said police were called out at 5.47pm on Thursday after Turia fired at a neighbour’s window on Avis Ave in the South Auckland suburb.
The armed offenders squad and the Eagle helicopter responded and cordons were set up as police negotiated with Turia for hours.
Police said negotiations failed to resolve the situation and about 8.24pm, Turia emerged unexpectedly from his house armed with a shotgun before he was shot three times. Rogers said Turia was repeatedly asked to drop the firearm but refused to do so.
It was the second fatal police shooting in the suburb in recent years. Hitesh Lal died last April after brandishing a machete, attacking houses and threatening locals.
A long strip of Avis Ave remained cordoned off yesterday with police guarding the intersection with Allenby Rd and only allowing residents through.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” a resident near the intersection said. “The street was full of cop cars. New Zealand never used to be like this.”
Another resident said he heard two or three shots about 8.30pm and an ambulance went to Avis Ave.
“It was scary . . . As soon as the shots happened, the helicopter came in really close and was flying low around the house.”
It still wasn’t clear why Turia shot at a neighbour’s house.
Rogers said police would have tried non-lethal force if possible but opened fire to ensure their safety and the community’s.
She said the use of lethal force was a “worst-case scenario” for police.
The man’s family and police involved were being supported: “We now also have a family who have lost a loved one and so we will do what we can to ensure they are well supported, along with Victim Support.”
A critical-incident investigation was under way and the Independent Police Conduct Authority was notified.
O¯tara-Papatoetoe Local Board chair Lotu Fuli told Newstalk ZB: “It’s very scary, but unfortunately these things have been happening more frequently over the past couple of years.”