Mystery gunman still on the run

As a mystery gunman continues to evade capture the police commissioner says officers from across Auckland and Northland are doing everything they can to end the hunt without bloodshed.

Police are now focusing today's large scale operation on the Northland settlement of Kaiwaka and surrounding districts after he opened fire on two unarmed police officers in a Whangarei street, stole their vehicle, car-jacked another and fled south to Maungaturoto.

The whereabouts of the wanted man are still unknown after he evaded earlier cordons set up around the district.

Armed police are searching in the seaside settlement of Mangawhai. According to locals checkpoints have been set up at roads in and out of the cove and cars are being searched.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush today said officers from three police districts were now part of a major operation to find the gunman.

"We're doing everything we can to locate and arrest the person who fired shots at two police officers in Whangarei early this morning," he said.

"Members of the Armed Offenders Squad as well as staff from Northland, Waitematā and Auckland City districts are involved in this operation and ongoing inquiries. As always in events of this nature, our objective is to ensure the safety of the public and our staff and resolve this situation without anyone getting hurt."

He said the police were also supporting the two staff members who were shot at by the wanted man.

Four daycare centres and preschools in the Kaiwaka have closed for the day. Just one school, Otamatea High, decided against opening. While all primary schools have opened a number of parents in Maungaturoto have kept their children home fearing for their safety.

Police were covering a large swathe of the Kaipara district as the hunt for the armed fugitive neared 12 hours.

At least 10 police vehicles including dog handlers have set up at a point in Kaiwaka and other vehicles have been seen driving around the town.

Earlier, police were advising residents of Maungaturoto and surrounding areas of significant cordons in place as they tried to locate him in the area.

The cordons have now been lifted. 

Inspector Al Symonds said police attempted to stop a vehicle in Bank St, Whangarei, at 12.43am.

The driver fled from police initiating a short pursuit before crashing minutes later on Kamo Rd in Whangarei.

The male driver got out of the vehicle and fired a shot at two unarmed police officers.

Both officers sought cover with the man stealing their unmarked patrol vehicle.

A short time later the wanted man stopped two people in a vehicle near Raumanga Valley Rd in Whangarei.

He ordered them to get out before he took their vehicle and headed south on State Highway 1.

He was next seen travelling along State Highway 12 by police where they signalled for the driver to stop; however, he fled and the car was last seen near Maungaturoto.

Police found the vehicle abandoned on Bikerstaffe Rd.

The AOS was sent into the area and searched for the man. 

Police Association president Greg O'Connor hadn't spoken to the officers who were fired at, but said they were shaken.

"Obviously they're quite traumatised and they're being looked after, and they'll be anxiously awaiting the outcome of the operation to catch the offender."

He said police officers around the country would not be surprised by the incident, which he said happened during a routing piece of policing.

"I received a call early this morning as I often do when these incidents occur, police obviously throughout Northland will be focused on tracking this man down.

"The public should be really in support of police while they carry out this operation in their area," Mr O'Connor said.

The man's identity was not yet known, however, he was described as possibly in his late 30s, up to 6ft tall with brown curly hair.

He was wearing a blue T-shirt with white writing and a brown zip-up hoodie.

 

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