Man shot dead by police in Auckland’s Papatoetoe, Australian deportee

A man shot by police in South Auckland was deported from Australia in 2017, police confirmed.

Tangaru-Noere Turia, 34, died after being shot following an incident on Avis Ave, Papatoetoe, on Thursday night.

Police said he came out of a house with a shotgun and when he refused to drop the gun, they opened fire.

He displayed “erratic” and “aggressive” behavior before three shots were fired, they said.

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* Man shot by police during a gun cry in South Auckland.

Turia was deported to New Zealand from Australia in 2017, police said Friday night.

At a news conference Friday morning, Superintendent Jill Rogers said she “unexpectedly” left the house, “brandishing” the shotgun.

Rogers believes he was shot three times as a result of waving the shotgun at officers, but said investigations into what happened were ongoing.

“Tragically, we are required to respond to the event as it unfolds, and sadly this has resulted in the use of deadly force.”

She said Thursday’s incident was “on the higher end of what our staff will face.”

“The worst possible decision a police officer can make is to take someone’s life.”

Rogers said Turia had previously fired a shot through a neighbor’s window, where several people were inside.

He said he was known to the police and was actively accused.

Rogers said police responded to reports of what sounded like gunshots in Papatoetoe Wednesday night, but that was not “related” to Thursday’s incident.

The Armed Criminal Squad and the Eagle helicopter were called to the scene after the shot was reported through the window.

Police said officers tried to negotiate with Turia to resolve the matter safely.

Around 8:24 p.m., Turia left the house with a shotgun. Police said they repeatedly asked him to drop the firearm, but he did not. Then they shot him.

St John Ambulance staff treated him at the scene before being transported to Middlemore Hospital for surgery, where he died around 10:30 p.m.

Resident Tracey Rose said she was watching television with her partner when they heard four shots and then a woman screaming and crying.

He also described hearing the men scream before everything fell silent. She said it lasted about 10 seconds.

“My children were scared and wondered what had happened and why the shooting happened.”

The police cordons were still in place Friday morning, blocking the connection between Birdwood Ave and Avis Ave, but police left around 4 p.m.

On Thursday night, a Carruth Rd resident, who gave her name only as Hapreet, said: “There is panic everywhere. We don’t know what is happening here, but there is panic everywhere ”.

On Friday morning, a resident of adjoining Birdwood Ave said Things he heard “many shots” before the police arrived at the scene.

Avi, who declined to give her last name, has lived on Birdwood Ave since 2002.

She said that although she was surprised by an incident of this scale, it was “normal” to see police in the area responding to incidents.

As for whether she felt safe there, she said she felt “a bit indifferent” because she “sees it all the time.”

A critical incident investigation into the shooting is underway and the Independent Authority for Police Conduct has been notified.

Thoughts of community leaders with the family

Lotu Fuli, president of the Local Board of Ōtara-Papatoetoe, described the incident as “very disturbing”.

“I know that the residents of the area were very worried last night and were feeling anxious,” he said.

“Our Papatoetoe community has been through a lot recently, so we definitely feel sorry for them.”

“Our hearts and thoughts also go out to the family of the deceased.

“Despite the circumstances, they have lost a loved one and will feel that loss right now. Kia kaha. “

Alf Filipaina, a Manukau Ward councilor, said that after a series of shootings in Ōtara last year, learning of the incident in Papatoetoe was “like Déjà vu.”

“It’s like a yo-yo to me: we end up having an incident, we try to do everything we can collectively to address it and then something else happens, and it’s the same thing again.

Filipaina said a push was needed from the central government together with the community to get more funding in the South Auckland area to address such issues.

More funding for youth and social workers on the ground in the area was one of these ways.

“We cannot have a band-aid here and there. We need a wraparound bandage, ”he said.

“Our community is tired. We don’t want things like this to happen in our area.

“South Auckland is better than what people see and read.”

Jenny Salesa, an MP for Panmure-Ōtāhuhu, said the government had funded a number of initiatives aimed at addressing gang and gun violence in South Auckland.

These include establishing a youth wellness center and opening education, employment, and training opportunities for youth, such as its Fees Free program and the Mana and Mahi initiatives.

Salesa said she had been advocating for some time for the reestablishment of successful initiatives focused on children and youth at risk that had transformed Ōtara and Māngere in the early 2000s.

“Gang-related activities must be addressed at all levels with comprehensive, long-term solutions that are sustainably funded.”

Fatal police shootings

Thursday’s fatal shooting is not the first to occur in Papatoetoe.

In April 2020, police shot and killed Hitesh Lal after making a rampage with a machete and waving the gun at police on Central Ave.

Lal was ordered to drop his weapon, but continued to approach an officer who fired two shots at him.

Earlier this month, the Independent Police Conduct Authority found that the police were justified in shooting Lal.

According to the Homicide Report, an incident in Tauranga was at least the 21st fatal shooting by police since January 1, 2004.

Data from the Official Information Law released last year showed that four more had occurred since then. That means the incident in Papatoetoe on Thursday may be the 26th.