A man has been shot dead by police after entering a West Auckland supermarket and injuring multiple people, New Zealand police have confirmed.
Police told RNZ that the incident was still unfolding, but confirmed that a man had entered a New Lynn supermarket and injured multiple people. He was located by police, shot, and died at the scene.
Fatal police shootings are rare in New Zealand – averaging at around 3.5 per year, according to a database of the decade from 2007 to 2017.
The police are yet to confirm if the man had a firearm.
Gun crime is uncommon in New Zealand, especially compared to other parts of the world. But it has been on the rise, despite the government’s clampdown on firearms in the wake of the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.
Footage shared on social media show people screaming and fleeing the Countdown LynnMall supermarket.
Someone taking shelter at a nearby chemist told Newshub it was a “scary” situation and people had had to hide inside the store.
The New Zealand Herald reported that at least one person had suffered stab wounds, while St John Ambulance confirmed to RNZ that two people had been taken to hospital in critical condition and two people were in hospital in moderate condition. At least 10 police cars as well as ambulances were at the scene.
The prime minister’s office confirmed that Jacinda Ardern was being briefed on the situation.
Earlier this year, a man was taken into custody after allegedly stabbing four people at a supermarket in Dunedin.
