Napier gunman not shot by police, coroner says

Jan Molenaar did not receive any gunshot wounds from police after he shot and killed Senior Constable Len Snee (inset). Photos / Supplied, Hawkes Bay Today

Funeral tribute
Send us your photos and video of the public paying tribute to Len Snee.

Napier gunman Jan Molenaar did not receive any gunshot wounds from police fire and apparently killed himself, a coroner said today.

Police this morning said they had fired two shots at Molenaar which caused him to go back into his house, where he posed less of a threat to the public and police.

In his post-mortem examination notes Coroner David Crerar took the unusual step of confirming Molenaar appeared to have killed himself.

The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and Molenaar did not receive any other gunshot wounds from police or anyone else.

Mr Crerar's notes said: "The evidence available suggests the gunshot was self-inflicted."

The family gave permission for the information to be released.

Police also revealed today that shots fired by Molenaar have been found as much as 400m away from his house.

Superintendent Rod Drew said there was evidence of one murder, that of Senior Constable Len Snee, whose funeral will be held today, and 21 attempted murders from shots fired at police, neighbours and attempted rescuers.

He said it was important that police had fired two shots at Molenaar towards the start of the siege as he had been firing from an elevated position up to that point.

After police fired at him, Molenaar retreated into his house and further shots were fired though windows causing less danger to emergency services and the public.

Mr Drew said: "This just really indicates how dangerous to the general community this rampage was."

Molenaar was wearing homemade protection gear, including a sheet of metal which he had around his shoulders, police said today.

It is six days since the former territorials marksman fatally shot Mr Snee and critically injured three others, sparking a two-day gun siege on Chaucer Rd in Napier's Hospital Hill.

Police examining the scene at Molenaar's house believe they have now found all his firearms. They were all loaded with the safety catch off.

The investigation team will attend Mr Snee's funeral today. Mr Drew said he was proud of the way they had got on with their jobs in the difficult circumstances.