Browns Bay stabbing: Woman found in pool of blood after sushi shop attack, assailant dead

A woman brutally stabbed inside her own Auckland sushi shop remains in hospital as expert police forensic teams comb the scene this morning to piece together what happened.

Witnesses described seeing the woman lying in a pool of blood last night after she was allegedly stabbed multiple times at Neco Sushi on Clyde Rd in Browns Bay on the North Shore.

Her assailant died at the scene, police said.

The victim was seriously injured but her health has since stabilised in hospital.

The Herald understands the attacker’s body is still inside the shop today.

The victim is understood to be a woman of Korean descent and the owner of the sushi shop.

A scene examination is currently taking place on Clyde Road in Browns Bay following a stabbing at the Neco Sushi store yesterday evening. 29 March 2024. New Zealand Herald Photograph by Hayden Woodward

A Browns Bay business owner told the Herald this morning he often goes to buy sushi at the shop and described the owner as a “nice but reserved person”.

“She is about 60 years old, doesn’t say much but makes great sushi.”

Police said a scene examination is under way following the death of the attack yesterday.

The woman taken to hospital seriously injured was now in a stable condition, they said.

“Police believe this is an isolated incident where the victim and offender were known to each other.”

Officers are continuing to provide support to the victim and her family, police said.

Clyde Rd remains blocked off with police thanking the public for their cooperation.

Community in shock

“I’m just in total shock that something like this can happen here in Browns Bay,” the business owner, who didn’t wish to be named, said.

A resident walking his dog said he moved into the neighbourhood believing it safe.

“Just look around - it’s shocking,” he said.

“There have been a few serious stabbings out this way, and to think a few years ago, they wanted to take our local police station away.”

Two women getting their morning coffee could be heard saying: “That poor lady, she didn’t deserve that”.

Robin Lee, co-owner of 21 Days Bar & Brasserie, which is a few doors away from the sushi shop, said he had customers cancel their bookings following the incident.

“I think the immediate reaction is that they think this is a random attack, but it is not. I think we need to reassure people that Browns Bay is still safe,” Lee said.

“My thoughts are with the victim and her family.”

Forensic teams are working to collect evidence at Neco Sushi. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Hector Do, owner of Madam Yen Vietnamese Restaurant, said he doesn’t know the victim but does not think the incident has made Browns Bay any less safe.

“We are carrying on business as usual, I don’t worry for the safety of my staff or customers,” he said.

Police have set up cordons and a tent outside Neco Sushi, meanwhile, as forensic teams in blue overalls begin investigating.

About half a dozen forensics team members can be seen walking in and out of the shop.

Detectives have also been seen arriving and entering the store from the rear.

Locals have repeatedly approached police on cordons for information or to ask if they can walk through, but officers have remained tight-lipped and advised them to walk around.

‘Lying in a pool of blood’

Three people in the area earlier told the Herald they believed the woman had been stabbed and two said they saw someone lying in a pool of blood outside the shop.

Police said emergency services attended following a report of an assault at 5.48pm yesterday.

The victim of the assault was transported to Auckland Hospital with serious injuries.

“The offender responsible for inflicting the serious injuries died at the scene from a self-inflicted injury,” police said.

Police said the victim and offender were known to each other.

“Police are providing support to those affected by this traumatic incident.

“The area is cordoned while inquiries into the circumstances are conducted, but no one else is being sought in relation to the incident.”

A man called Matt told the Herald he had just had a haircut and was getting into his car when he saw people moving towards the Neco Sushi shop, so he went to have a look.

”When I got to the shop this woman was just lying on the ground with a fair bit of blood.”

Matt said the blood was pooling around the woman’s head.

Police photography and forensic staff continue their scene examination on Clyde Rd, Browns Bay after a suspected stabbing. Photo / Hayden Woodward

”She was outside the door of the sushi shop lying on the pavement.

“She was not responding but she was moving her legs and she was in pain.”

Matt said two “random people” were assisting the injured woman.

He said there were some construction workers nearby who had blood on their hands.

A restaurant employee near the scene said a customer pulled a knife on a woman in the sushi shop and stabbed her.

Another witness described police sprinting towards the sushi shop from up the road.

”I didn’t see what happened but had heard there was a stabbing. It’s so tragic, this keeps happening every week in New Zealand.”

In a statement shortly after 8pm yesterday, police said the offender responsible for inflicting the serious injuries on the woman had died at the scene from a self-inflicted injury.

“Police are providing support to those affected by this traumatic incident.

“The area is cordoned while inquiries into the circumstances are conducted, but no one else is being sought in relation to the incident.”

Police photography and forensic staff continue their scene examination on Clyde Rd. Photo / Hayden Woodward

A woman told the Herald she was walking her dog on the beach and had just come up on to the road when she stumbled across the scene.

”We came around the corner from Phoenix Place and saw a person lying on the ground with a few people around them and someone at the sushi shop holding the door.”

Police arrived a short time later armed with a Taser and firearm. About four officers spoke with the man who was holding the door before entering the shop.

Emergency services respond to a potential stabbing on Clyde Rd. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“I don’t know where the offender was but when police went in we heard a lot of banging and crashing. And they were there for quite some time.”

The woman said the injured woman was lying on the ground.

”I don’t know how they got injured but there was a lot of blood.

”I don’t think she was responsive but I did see some movement and things got quite frantic.

”A lot of rushing and sending people in different directions. It looked quite serious to me.”

The woman said several ambulances eventually arrived and began treating the victim.

She saw a “pretty distraught guy” assisting the victim.

”He was very upset. It was just horrible.”

The woman also noticed a helicopter overhead as the emergency response unfolded.

Emergency services respond to a potential stabbing on Clyde Rd in Browns Bay on Auckland's North Shore. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Witnesses posted about the incident on Facebook.

One man said he was just across the road when it happened.

”It’s not something you expect to see in this country. I feel very heartbroken for the victim. It would have been extremely frightening.”

Another witness said the police had caught the offender after bystanders shut him inside the shop where the incident happened until officers arrived.

”It’s a horrifying scene down there.”

Another poster said that “police went in with guns to get him”.

Earlier a local business owner told the Herald she was on her way home about 6pm when she saw three police cars speeding towards Browns Bay with their emergency lights on.

She said she got home and received a call from her staff saying they could see police officers outside the Starbucks store on Clyde Rd.

Police had blocked the road and were putting up yellow cordon tape.

She immediately instructed her staff to close the shop as a precaution while they awaited further information.

- Additional reporting, Benjamin Plummer, Lane Nichols.