Auckland homicide: Two arrested after fatal shooting in West Auckland

Police investigating the fatal shooting in West Auckland early Saturday morning have arrested two people.

Detective Inspector Lloyd Schmid said a 24-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman have been jointly charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a pistol and unlawful possession of ammunition after the incident in Avondale.

They are due to appear in Auckland District Court on Monday.

“Police are working closely with the victim’s family, whose name will not be released at this early stage as the formal identification process is still ongoing,” Schmid said.

“We are also assisting the family to locate next of kin overseas.”

Police said a scene examination had been started this morning at Saintly Lane property where the two firearms were located.

“Police want to reassure the community that they are safe, and that there is a large contingent of Police working to understand the circumstances which led to this man’s death.”

Anyone with further information is asked to contact police by ringing 105 and quoting file number 211002/1241.

Earlier in the day, inspector Daniel Meade said police were called to the area just before 4.30am today after a report gunshots had been heard.

“Upon arrival, a man was located with a gunshot injury,” he said.

“He was taken to hospital in a serious condition.”

Just before 10.30am, police said the man had died.

Saintly Lane this morning remained cordoned off while police, including Armed Offenders Squad members, cleared a residential property.

“We understand this morning’s events have been distressing for [residents of Saintly Lane] and we appreciate their ongoing patience as we continue to conduct inquiries in the area,” Meade said.

A person near the scene early this morning said armed police had focused their attention on one house.

There were 13 police cars at the scene and number of armed officers approached the house, he said.

He understood police negotiated with someone in the home, while overhead the police Eagle helicopter circled.

No residents along the street had emerged from their homes, he said.

The incident comes two days after a lengthy police car chase from Ōtāhuhu to Hillsborough ended when police shot a man, who had allegedly earlier pointed a weapon at officers and members of the public.

Shocked residents on Lilac Grove in Hillsborough said they saw the shot man clutching his blood-covered chest on Thursday after the dramatic 20km pursuit through multiple Auckland suburbs.

Police said the incident started at 8.30am that day when two police officers tried to stop a vehicle that sped off.

A person in the car later jumped out and got into a second car waiting on an Auckland motorway. The second car was then spiked and followed until reaching Lilac Grove.

It was there the driver fled on foot before police shot the second man.

The shot man was critically hurt and recovering in hospital, while a second man was arrested and appeared in court.

In the courts, meanwhile, Auckland woman Natalie Jane Bracken was yesterday sentenced to jail for assisting a man who last year shot and killed police officer Matthew Hunt when he responded to a car crash in Massey.

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