Shooting shatters calm of rural community
A rural Waikato resident jolted awake by sirens on Thursday has described hearing “two or three shots” during an incident in which police fatally shot a man.
Police said the shooting happened after an armed man entered a stranger’s home in Manawaru and threatened a parent and child.
Officers had been pursuing the man and unsuccessfully tried to stop his stolen vehicle with road spikes. After the man fled into the house and threatened the pair, he was shot and critically injured. Despite receiving medical attention, he later died.
McLaren Rd in Manawaru, near Te Aroha, remained cordoned off yesterday with several officers inspecting scenes relating to the incident.
A McLaren Rd resident said she had been at home napping about 1pm on Thursday.
“And then I heard the sirens and I just saw the police outside there.
“I just saw them getting their guns so I’m really scared.”
She went back into the bedroom “and then I heard some shots . . . maybe two or three”.
Officers came to the home and spoke to her husband, saying they could not go out because the road was closed.
Manawaru School went into lockdown as a precaution after being notified of the incident by a parent.
Principal Rosemary Hendrikse told NZME: “We had children in the pool and wanted to be nimble if we needed to be. The staff and children had practised this in the past and responded smartly. When we heard the incident was contained, we relaxed but kept children inside.”
Matamata-Piako Mayor Adrienne Wilcock was “shocked and saddened” by the event in a “tight-knit rural community”.
“I feel for the innocent people caught up in this and understand local police and the community victim support group are supporting them after what must have been extremely frightening for them.
“From a community perspective, this incident was an isolated one that was initiated in Hamilton and it perhaps appears by chance that it ended within our district.”
Police said there would be an increased presence in the area as staff worked to “establish a full picture of what has occurred”.
The incident would be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority and a critical incident investigation was underway.