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MEDIA RELEASE                
Fatal shot fired by officer

The post-mortem examination of 17 year-old Halatau Naitoko, who was fatally shot while travelling on the Northwestern Motorway yesterday afternoon, was carried out this morning and was attended by an ESR ballistics expert who has advised Police that the fatal shot came from a Police issue firearm.

Auckland Assistant Commissioner Steve Shortland says the homicide investigation into Mr Naitoko's death has so far - and there's a mountain more work to be done - established that five shots were fired by Police at the motorway scene yesterday.
'The firearms used by Police at the motorway scene were seized yesterday and all spent rounds have been accounted for,' Mr Shortland said.
'Right now Superintendent George Fraser is visiting Halatau's family to inform them of the investigation findings so far. There's no easy way to say what we must say to the Naitoko family who are suffering greatly today.'

Mr Shortland said those officers who fired rounds at the fatal motorway scene have identified themselves to the homicide investigation team and have given accounts of their actions.

'They are yet to be formally interviewed and those interviews will be carried out by staff who are coming to Auckland from out-of-district, specifically to carry out those important tasks.

'We said yesterday that, no matter who fired the fatal shot, the events of January 23 in and around Auckland were tragic for all concerned,' Mr Shortland said.

'They are no less tragic today for the Naitoko family and are more tragic for the officers involved who, it must be remembered, were where they were doing their duties because a man with a loaded gun chose to rampage throughout the region without regard to anyone's safety.
'That man, a 50 year-old who is at this stage accused of a firearms offence, was wounded by Police and underwent surgery this morning to remove shrapnel from his chest and back. He remains under guard in Auckland Hospital.
'Another man who was injured during the tragedy was treated and discharged from Auckland Hospital yesterday.'
Mr Shortland said that many people had witnessed some of the events of yesterday's hour-long pursuit and had given accounts to investigators.

However, if there are people out there who have information about parts of the pursuit and its tragic conclusion, they should contact the Operation Madison team on 09 302 6567.

I did not think kiwi cops carryed side arms.  So if this is the case they would of had to get the guns out of the car boot.  No matter what there is no way the wrong person should of been shot.  I am sorry if I sound over the top bt living here for 12 years you see cops and gaurds with guns all the time but very few times are they used.  If this person who was killed was in there way why the heck did they shoot.??????????    very very sad really

That's the kind of reaction I think the cops have been dreading.
It's all fine and well to say that now - but in the heat of the moment on the motorway yesterday afternoon... I can understand the mistake.



Yep - very sad for all involed - and brought on by the *unt who started it all...
Blame him - not the police...

I agree totally but no clear shot should not of happen.  But like me have noidea what went on so I will back off until all comes to light.  I just don't like anyone dieing.

Yer - me neither...
It was on the scanner yesterday - I didn't beleive it at first though....

Sad events all round.

 :)

'That man, a 50 year-old who is at this stage accused of a firearms offence, was wounded by Police and underwent surgery this morning to remove shrapnel


shrapnel ? ;does that mean they are using hollow nose bullets ?

The solid 5.56mm x 45 round fired by the Police M4 is inclined to fragment once it hits something, partly due to the barrel length. This effect could be seen as an advantage for Police work in that the round is less likely to pass through a body and go on to cause further damage.

5.56mm also deflects [ricochets] quite easily which is a characteristic which made it unpopular with Aust/NZ troops in Viet Nam, leading to M16's being restricted in the main to Officers, Radio Ops and M79 grenadiers.

I find it sad that the victims fiancee has chosen to come out blaming the Police. I can understand her grief, but the blame surely lies with the ratbag who started it all off.

Horrible thing to happen.... something the officer will live with forever.

Definitely, very sad.  The police are going to be hauled over the coals over this one.  Damned if they do, damned if they don't.  k1w1....I understand that the police carry firearms in the front of their cars.  Also being AOS they would also be carrying side-arms. 

Unfortunately, NZ is becoming more and more a violent society and I can see that more and more innocent people are going to be caught in crossfire.

We arrived in Aucks about 3pm - 20 minutes down the Western was all we had to go.  We had my little capri so scooting through the traffic was easy.  We didnt know how to get there any other way haha - we drove through Balmoral Roskill area .. and the traffic was bumper to bumper and some all the way to St Lukes.  Then on the western motor way from St Lukes right up to and past Te atatu turn off there was 3 lanes of traffic heading to Auckland with more tumbling down towards the backlog.  The 20 minute run took us an hour and a half extra  :o

I cant blame the fiancee for being upset and blaming police
she is still trying to come to grips with what happed.
and looking for a reason why her man is dead.

This whole thing is bad for everyone concerned.

I just heard on TV the man who the police were after his lawyer
says he said he cant remember anything that happened.

What kind of excuse is that,is he saying he was out of his tree
on p and cant remember a thing?Is this even possible  ???

I heard them saying on the radio that he was a mental patient - not a P user.

But we will never know the truth till it all gets 'investigated'.

I agree with Im2Sexy.  I would also be upset and blaming the police if my partner was killed in that sort of situation.  She is also having to deal with the fact that she is pregnant with twins and he was also the dad of a little girl.

No matter how much we support the police to keep us safe and how much we respect them, the shooting of an innocent person should not have happened.   Could this tragedy have been averted?  Only time and details will tell.

Ahh well - the news is saying hes a long term druggie of anything and everything it seems  ???

Police Commissioner to visit dead man's family

Police Commissioner Howard Broad is set to visit the family of the man shot dead by police on an Auckland motorway on Friday. Halatau Naitoko, 17, was killed when a stray bullet fired from a police rifle struck him in the chest...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10553633&ref=rss

It can have a very bad effect mixing different drugs  >:D

From the news this morning it seems that independent law experts are saying that the shooting met all legal requirements.

While it's tragic that an innocent person died, it's was bound to happen sometime. I'd be pissed if it was one of my family and trying hard to understand.

The most interesting comment I have read is from the truck driver who has publicly stated that he is grateful that Police 'saved his life'

[I'll learn how to post links one day. Like John Key, I struggle for time to learn the language]

Yeh, perhaps it met with all legal requirements.

It looks like the 50 yr old was between the cops and the 17 yr old.  So the cops shot at the 50 yr old without thinking about what was on the other side of the vehicle he was in.  Thats OK?

Our old next door neighbour is having fits about this, he says, Im 82 and still go out shooting possums, rabbits, deer etc.  I have no trouble at night time with my 22 and an open scope at 100m seeing clearly what is in my sights.  How does someone who has top of the line equipment, hi-tech sights etc manage to shoot the wrong person?

True..itll all come out eventually, but the kid got it in the chest and the real perp got shrapnel wounds Ill refrain from adding my 2 cents worth, for now.

Something someone pointed out to me the other day was that builders, mechanics, plumbers etc do apprenticeships that last for 3 - 5 years.  Our cops do 3 months??  ANd then they are released onto the public.  Some of them are just kids, with no real comprehension of LIFE, and most of them have little or no ability to communicate, let alone know how to relate to others.

Yeah that was Helens mob lowering the entry requirements some of the youngsters couldnt even read or write proper engrish fer krissakes!!

"most of them have little or no ability to communicate, let alone know how to relate to others." - can you back this up with anythying?

That's a pretty solid statement love...

 :)

Yes it is - the group I am talking about are those who have been in for up to say 3 years.  The minimum age to join is 18.  Many men dont 'grow up' till they are at least 25, Im talking from my own experience of men Ive known  ;)  and the cops Ive worked with over the years.  They can handle a conversation at a car window, they practise it for ages - how to answer certain questions.  Their 'training' is something like 19 weeks - and they are expected to handle the most explosive of situations (no pun intended).

Im surprised more of them arn't killed on duty.  I dont think they are trained enough to do what their job requirements are, that being protect and serve.

They have a wonderful protection system, admirably so, they close ranks as soon as theres a smell of trouble. 

How is it that a system that has kids dealing with situations like this, not to mention the DV, traffic accidents, child abuse, rape etc etc etc never make mistakes?  When did they last make a mistake and admit to it?  How often are abuse charges against cops upheld?

Yer - ok... I've got no come-back to that!

I totally agree.
 :)

I guess I've never met or worked with a cop who I would view as inadequate or under skilled - but in saying that haven't met a hell of a lot of cops either.... You are right in what you say about life experience and Men in general - and 19 weeks isn't long for training.... I can see how the odd rotten egg or useless bugger could slip through. Guess I've just been lucky with the very view I've ever had the pleasure of talking to....

 :)

i think one of the annoying things about this shooting is that the duffass guy they were after 'Mr 50yr old" who claims not to remember any of it!!!   Yeah Right  --  will probably get off with just a few charges.  After all he did nothing more than ...what
...

present firearm/shoot firearm
assault
carless driving/dangerous driving
driving under the influence
failing to stop

charges like these dont really draw too much jail time (as a rule)

so he can just claim...... 'i dont remember' and practically get away with it and make the cops look like a bunch of bunnies???

sad but true state of affairs

I think one of the charges will be attempted murder of a police officer
after all he was shooting at them whilst driving along the motorway.

And i am pritty sure that saying you dont remember a thing because you are too drunk or drugged cuts you no slack in a court,
I think they will throw the book at him.

I may be wrong but we will soon see.

Also about cops; i wonder why anyone would want to be one
first you would need to be able to put up with all the stress that comes with the job.
Your outlook on life must end up being bad because of all the crap people give you, all the time your dealing with the worst type of people.
Cops see the bad things that most of us never see.

A woman has been arrested in connection with the drama on an Auckland motorway in which an innocent man was shot dead by the police.

Stephen McDonald faces several charges relating to the motorway drama and a female accomplice who was allegedly driving the first stolen vehicle has appeared in court.

Margaret Mann, 19, has been charged with unlawfully getting into a stolen motor vehicle, failing to stop for police and driving while forbidden.

Police say she was arrested on Friday after a stolen vehicle was dumped in Glen Eden.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/another-arrest-in-police-chase-case-2455085

 :o

While the police from their head down have been fulsome in showing respect to the family of Halatau Naitoko, they've been less forthcoming about details and proceedures that led to the death of an innocent teenager. That hasn't stopped the theorists on the net, across the smoko room, and amongst those with experience in armed response, however. As well, experts we've spoken to over the last few days point to three possible ways the tragedy could have unfolded:

One - Halatau was killed by a police bullet which ricocheted off one of the vehicles.
Two - Police completely missed their real target and Halatau was killed by a stray bullet.
Or, Three - Worrying suggestions police mistakenly identified Halatau as their offender and deliberately shot him.

What all these theories point to is not laying the blame on the officers called out to do their job, but whether the training and the equipment they were given was appropriate. Berny Maubach has been there. He's the former head of the German Anti-Terrorism Squad, and a firearms expert who was called on to give evidence in the Steven Wallace trial. He joins Close Up from Whanganui.

http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/armed-offenders-squad-under-fire-2455363