A man at the centre of a major police incident pulled a woman from her car at gunpoint and led police on a dramatic chase through inner Auckland. In Hamilton, a man is dead after exchanging gunfire with police. Video / NZ Herald
Gunfire has been reported during a major police incident in Auckland and two people have been taken to hospital.
Two intersections on Great South Rd in Penrose have been closed - one at Great South Rd and Church St/South Eastern Highway and another at Great South Rd and Campbell Rd - due to a police investigation, Auckland Transport said.
St John were alerted to the incident at alerted at 10.59am, a spokesman said.
One person was seriously hurt and taken to Auckland Hospital, while a second patient was taken to Middlemore with moderate injuries.
Armed police stand guard near a crashed BMW stolen from a car dealership on Great South Road Greenlane. A man was arrested after several gunshots were fired. Photo / Supplied
A witness, who gave her first name as Sonia, said she saw a firearm-wielding man running down Great South Road weaving in between cars, point his firearm at police officers who were chasing him. She said around three officers had guns and were pursuing him. She could hear them shouting at the man.
"He was pointing a firearm at the cops and trying to run. I could hear them shouting but my window was up and I needed to get out of there."
Police respond to an emergency incident at the intersection of Great South Rd and Church St. Photo / Supplied
She said the man was running towards Greenlane and he was holding what looked like a pistol. She saw the chase unfold while pulling up to the lights at the Z petrol station on Great South Road.
She was worried the man with a firearm might run through the petrol station. She said her first thought was to "get out of there" and get home to her children. She saw a number of cars U-turn from the area to try and get away. She also reversed away from the area and travelled home on an alternative route.
A cafe manager on Church St East said his customers were sitting outside when they heard gunshots.
They didn't see the incident, the cafe manager said.
But after hearing the shots they went out onto the road to see what had happened and saw a swarm of police cars at what they thought was the site about 150m further down on Great South Rd.
Church St East was now blocked off and the manager said police were yet to approach his business to tell him what was happening.
Another witness says they saw a white BMW X5 with no plates speed through Ellerslie, "travelling 100km in a 50km zone."
Armed police stand guard near the scene where a crashed BMW stolen from a car dealership on Great South Road Greenlane. A man was arrested after several gunshots were fired. Photo / Supplied
They then saw a "large build man", who was driving the BMW hit the curb at speed, at which point the car "caught air". They saw the car's air bags deploy and the police capture the man.
A worker near the Church St intersection told the Herald she heard sirens and a number of police cars "swoop in" about half an hour ago. She also saw ambulance and a helicopter, which has since left the area.
Drivers are being urged to delay their journey or use an alternative route.
Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers will provide the latest detail on the incident, as well as more information about the fatal police shooting in Hamilton last night, at 2.15pm.
SH1 LINK TO SOUTH EASTERN HWY CLOSED - 11:55AM Due to a police issue on Great South Rd the link from SH1 (Southbound) to South Eastern Hwy (Westbound) is now closed. The eastbound link remains open. Allow extra time for diversions in the area: https://t.co/aRkL4HkBFr ^TP pic.twitter.com/XFqIACuI94
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) July 15, 2021
Bus service disruptions - Due to the following incident and road closures, bus route 321, 670, 743, & 295 are impacted. Please expect delays and cancellations. ^KY https://t.co/B535y4CbBp
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) July 14, 2021
Bus routes 321, 670, 743, & 295 are impacted, Auckland Transport said, and people should expect delays and cancellations.
