Shooting drama shocks small Waikato town

Police were busy yesterday at the Kerepehi home of the man who was shot. Photo: NZ Herald
Police were busy yesterday at the Kerepehi home of the man who was shot. Photo: NZ Herald
Hours before he opened fire on police, the man at the centre of a shooting in a tiny Waikato village was going about life as usual.

Kerepehi residents who know the man are shocked he led police on a car chase before being shot several times and critically injured after an alleged domestic dispute on Tuesday night.

Just hours earlier the 50-year-old, a regular at the Kerepehi Dairy, dropped in to buy cigarette papers and chatted with shop assistant Wendy Kerr.

"He's a lovely guy. But he smelt of alcohol last night when I served him and that was at half past five."

Despite that she said he didn't appear drunk.

Mrs Kerr spoke of rumours of the man's tumultuous relationship with a woman he had lived with in Kerepehi for at least six months.

The man was shot by police after they were called to the domestic incident at a house in Kaikahu Rd about 9.45pm.

Neighbour Anthony Fictoor said he heard a commotion and police shouting over a loud hailer to "come out with your hands empty" or something similar.

He went outside to investigate but quickly shut the door when he saw police cars and spotlights.

Mr Fictoor, an engineer, said he moved four of his young daughters into his bedroom to make sure they were safe.

The man and woman fled in a Ford car. Minutes later as they turned on to State Highway 2 from Wharepoa Rd the car hit road spikes laid by police.

The car travelled 300m further before coming to a stop.

It was when police surrounded the car that the man allegedly fired.

Police shot back, hitting the man more than once in the "central body", according to Westpac Auckland Rescue Helicopter crewman medic Dean Harvey.

Mr Harvey said that when the helicopter arrived at the scene, outside Kerepehi Transport, the man was disorientated and being treated by St John staff. "He was conscious but confused. He was in a lot of pain."

The critically injured man was taken by helicopter to Waikato Hospital, where he underwent surgery yesterday. Last night he was in a serious but stable condition in the high dependency unit. It is understood the woman was in the car when the shootout happened. She was not injured or arrested.

Soon after the incident the armed offenders squad arrived at the couple's house and removed another man, who was understood to be taken to Paeroa police station.

It's not known whether he was connected to the incident or what his relationship to the couple was.

Yesterday a portion of SH2 remained closed while a specialist search group examined the scene looking for ammunition cartridges to determine how many shots were fired during the exchange.

The couple's car had been abandoned with the passenger door and boot left open, and the rear window smashed.

The house was also examined by police in boilersuits.

Hamilton police area commander Inspector Greg Nicholls said he was glad no one else was injured during the incident, which would now be the subject of three investigations.

"One looks at the circumstances of the event, the second looks at the policy, practice and procedures that were carried out during the course of the incident, and the third is one conducted by the Independent Police Conduct Authority."

 

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