Seems actor followed own script

Police investigating Monday's shooting in Pt Chevalier say that the injured man appears to have engineered the confrontation which led to the shooting.

Senior Investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Rod Drew, said that it is apparent from Police Communications Centre telephone recordings, that the man enticed Police to the address with false reports of a violent domestic incident there involving a man armed with a concealed firearm.

"It is now apparent that, having given a distinctive description of the 'angry man' he said was armed with a concealed firearm, the man dressed himself to fit the description and waited for Police to arrive," Mr Drew said.

"After some verbal interaction with Police he advanced into the street and threatened Police who had responded to the 111 calls, with what appeared to be a firearm wrapped in a towel. When he refused to stop, an officer fired one shot and the man was disarmed.

The officers involved then provided immediate first aid until advanced paramedics arrived at the scene about 10 minutes later."

The 36 year-old man has been under Police guard in Auckland Hospital since early on Monday afternoon. He is in a stable condition and is expected to remain in hospital for a week or more. A decision regarding charges will be made in the next day or so.

The officer who fired the shot is expected to complete a formal interview today, as are the other officers involved with the incident. The officer is off work while he completes the full medical and psychological de-briefing required by the Police Trauma Policy. He is not stood down from duty.

Mr. Drew says the investigation is progressing well.

"Several eye witnesses to the incident have been identified and interviewed since Monday and the examination of the scene of the shooting and the man's nearby address has been completed.

Detectives found his bedroom upturned with a mirror, pictures, a computer and other items smashed and thrown around the room," he said.

A team of about 30 officers is expected to continue the investigation over the next week.

ENDS

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