Police shoot gun-wielding man in Thames

Shocked residents told of efforts to save the injured 33-year-old

Police shot dead a man who confronted them with a gun during an incident on the Coromandel yesterday.

The Armed Offenders Squad and the Police Negotiation Team were called after police were alerted to a "significant threat of violence" about midday in Thames.

"The man confronted police with a firearm and was subsequently shot," said Detective Inspector Chris Page, Waikato District Manager of Criminal Investigations.

"This is a tragic incident and we extend our sincere sympathies to the family of the man involved."

Shocked residents were told of frantic efforts by emergency services to save the man.
A family member of the victim said he was a 33-year-old local.

Gunshots rang out in Campbell St just after 4.30pm, after police had closed off a section of State Highway 25 and urged people to stay indoors.

The family member believed there were three shots fired, but it was unclear whether they were all from police or included one fired by the victim.

It's understood an earlier incident in Kopu was linked to the fatal incident.

Thames residents Graeme and Glenys Humphrey were travelling past the scene of the shooting. Glenys told the Herald on Sunday: "There was the police, the guns and the dogs. There was a guy lying there and it seems they were doing CPR on him."

The scene of a fatal police shooting in Thames. Photo / Daniel Hines

The man died in Thames Hospital Photo / Steven McNicholl

Graeme added that the couple at first thought it was an exercise before realising how serious it was.

Fellow Thames resident Sara Fitz-Gerald had been visiting her mother's house, about 200m from the scene.

"We were standing outside and we heard two gunshots then we heard yelling 'stand down, stand down'. We ran to the other side of the house and I saw a police van shoot over to the other side of the road. It was pretty scary."

Page said that police had administered first aid, but the man died a short time later in the Thames Hospital.

An investigation was underway and police had advised the coroner and the Independent Police Conduct Authority. "There will be a thorough investigation into what took place, which will include examining the actions of police staff and the circumstances surrounding the incident," said Page.