Police launch homicide investigation after woman’s death in West Auckland, witnesses saw man with knife and heard screaming

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a woman died in Massey this evening.

Officers were called to a property on Royal Rd around 5.45pm to reports a woman had been seriously injured.

“Sadly, she died at the scene. Police are working to establish what has occurred,” Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Poland said.

“There will be a police presence in the area as officers conduct a scene examination and initial inquiries, which will include going to door-to-door speaking with people.”

Police gave no update on the hunt for the person responsible.

Members of the public say they saw a body on the road and heard a woman screaming.

Other witnesses have described seeing a shirtless man holding a knife.

Armed police responded to the sudden death just before 6pm.

A woman in a distraught state was seen standing across the road from the scene near the Waitakere Badminton Centre. She said she knew the victim.

A person has posted on Facebook saying they saw a body.

“Saw a body lying on the ground and a whole lot of cops n ambulance car [sic]. They’ve closed the area down now.”

Mac Yu who was playing badminton with friends said he heard a woman scream just after 5pm. But he thought it was just from another group of badminton players.

But soon police arrived and told the players they had to remain in the hall.

Yu said 13 people were kept in the hall before they were eventually escorted out one by one.

Police search bushes near Waitakere Badminton Centre in Massey after sudden death. Photo / Hayden Woodward

He and his group of friends were the last four people in the hall. They were kept inside for two and a half hours.

They were escorted out by police just after 8pm.

A worker at the badminton centre said earlier they’d been told to stay indoors after reports of a weapon.

Another badminton player who did not want to be named said he saw a man running in the centre’s car park holding what looked like a knife in his hand. The man was not wearing a shirt.

A man has posted on social media saying he saw a man running around with no top on while he was parked at traffic lights.

Police on the scene outside the Waitakere Badminton Centre on Royal Road in Auckland's Massey. Photo / Lincoln Tan

“Yelled something about someone with a knife, and stabbing someone. I couldn’t see anything just him running back to his van to grab a big wrench.”

A witness told NZME they saw eight police cars, two of them dog units, armed police standing outside the badminton centre, and an ambulance.

There are also reports of a helicopter hovering over the scene.

A staff member at the Mobil service station on Royal Rd told the Herald she could see police vehicles outside the badminton centre.

A man who gave his name only as Bill said he came to play badminton but was told by police the place will be closed for the rest of the day.

A Herald reporter at the scene says there are multiple police. One armed officer is guarding an alleyway near the Badminton centre.

It is understood the alleyway leads to Cedar Heights.

More armed police and a police dog unit has just arrived.

- More to come.