Live: 'There's a shooting': Reports of person with gun at Sylvia Park [evolving situation]

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/emergencies/992510/live-there-s-a-shooting-reports-of-person-with-gun-at-sylvia-park

Sylvia Park Mall in Auckland is in lockdown

A shop worker says they've been told a person with a gun has been seen in the area

The worker has seen armed police and police dogs

Reporter Bella Craig describes the situation from outside the mall to Checkpoint.

She says the lockdown is still in place

Shop workers told her they heard gunfire and shop keepers were told to lock their doors.

She said around 20 mins ago a fire engine was leaving with several police cars still outside.

Craig said people told her they could see people running.

Edit @4:20

Auckland City District Police said in a Facebook post that police had responded to an incident near Sylvia Park Mall this afternoon.

"The incident has concluded and there is no risk to public safety.

"There will be a continued police presence in the area as enquiries are undertaken however, the public is asked to avoid the area.

9 points · 6 comments · view on lemmy.world

6 Comments

Dave@lemmy.nz · 5 pts · 11d (4 replies)

Someone robbed a gun store then got shot dead by police after a chase.

A statement from police:

Statement attributable to Superintendent Sunny Patel, Auckland City District Commander:

An armed man fleeing from Police has been shot at Sylvia Park Shopping Centre this afternoon.

Earlier this afternoon, at around 2pm, Police received information about a theft of an air rifle at Gun City in Penrose.

The offender has fled in a vehicle and units have been dispatched.

The Police Eagle helicopter deployed to the area and has located the white Suzuki Swift travelling near Sylvia Park.

Eagle has monitored overhead and tracked the vehicle travelling into the Pakuranga area, where it has entered the car park at Pakuranga Plaza.

From there, the vehicle quickly exited onto the Pakuranga Highway and began driving erratically towards Panmure.

Units successfully deployed spikes as the vehicle continued towards Panmure.

The vehicle continued towards the Mount Wellington Highway, still being driven in an erratic manner.

It has become stranded at an intersection outside Sylvia Park Shopping Centre.

At this point, approximately 2.50pm, the offender fled on foot carrying a long-barrelled air rifle.

He has run on foot onto the grounds of the shopping centre.

Units have pursued the offender as he headed towards an entrance into the shopping centre.

Whilst still in possession of the air-rifle, he has been confronted underneath an overpass where he was been shot by Police.

First aid was immediately provided however the offender has been pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police have now stood up a critical incident investigation into the events that have unfolded this afternoon.

Our investigation is still in the very early stages of piecing together all the events.

A cordon has been set up at the scene, and we ask that people avoid the area at this stage.

These events have unfolded very quickly in a busy area, with people shopping at the mall and the afternoon rush hour getting underway.

I can reassure the public that there is no ongoing risk.

Police will provide further information as our enquiries develop.

AWOL_muppet@lemmy.nz · 4 pts · 10d (3 replies)

I wonder how it was stolen from gun city?

Dave@lemmy.nz · 3 pts · 10d (2 replies)

I've never been to Gun City. Could they not just walk out like any other shoplifting?

I'm just imagining someone making out like they are going to buy the air rifle, having the rifle and ammunition on the counter, then just grabbing and running.

AWOL_muppet@lemmy.nz · 4 pts · 10d (1 reply)

Suuurely its got better security than you average Michael Hill?

They're dealing in guns, for fucks sake!

Dave@lemmy.nz · 3 pts · 10d

Well they are probably locked behind cabinets like in Michael Hill, but you have to take them out at some point.

It seems another person was found critically injured at the Gun City. I have serious questions around how they haven't been found until now but I'm sure answers will come in time. Article here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-justice/1002408/another-person-found-wounded-at-gun-city-shop-where-man-fatally-shot-by-police-took-gun

There's a photo of the front of the shop there. It doesn't seem any more secure than PB Tech.

Fizz@lemmy.nz · 4 pts · 10d

Good quick response by the police. Could have been bad if he got to the mall