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A man died overnight after a police shooting in Papatoetoe yesterday.
A cordon in Papatoetoe after the police shot a man.
Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Police were called to a home on Avis Avenue at around 5.40pm yesterday after a shot was fired through the window of a neighboring home.
Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Jill Rogers said a member of the public called police and said they could see a man with a firearm.
Police were deployed, including armed criminal squads and the Eagle helicopter.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m., a man came out of the first house with a firearm and the police shot him.
St John’s staff immediately administered advanced first aid before the man was taken to Middlemore Hospital for surgery, where he died, Superintendent Rogers said.
He said that the police had tried to negotiate with the man to resolve the matter safely.
“At approximately 8.24 pm, the man left the house with a shotgun, the police repeatedly asked him to drop the firearm and he did not.
“Then the police shot him.”
People who live near the scene of the shooting say nothing like this has happened in the neighborhood before.
One woman said she knew something serious was going on when she heard all the police cars coming down the street.
Evaloni was at home with her children when it happened and was shocked when she went out last night to find that her home was within the cordon.
He heard the police helicopter and sirens, but did not hear any gunshots.
Poko wasn’t home last night when it happened, but she said she got a call from her husband about it and was pretty shocked.
Formal identification has yet to be made, but Rogers said the man’s family and law enforcement personnel were receiving support.
“Serious incidents like this are really upsetting for everyone involved.
“As we said before, this is truly the worst case scenario for our staff, who were unfortunately put last night in a position where they had to use deadly force to ensure not only their safety, but the safety of the community at large.
“Now we also have a family that has lost a loved one, so we will do everything we can to make sure they are well supported along with supporting the victims.”
Early this morning, there was a significant police presence on the residential street, with officers stationed at each of the three cordons.
In addition to half a dozen police cars, there was an Incident Command Unit at the scene.
The residents were being escorted by officers to and from their properties.
A critical incident investigation was initiated and the IPCA was notified.
