Police waiting to interview man shot in gun shop

Police are waiting for the go-ahead from doctors before interviewing a man who was shot while allegedly threatening an Auckland gun dealer with a machete.

The 29-year-old man was taken to Auckland Hospital for emergency surgery after being shot in the stomach at the Small Arms International gunshop in Penrose on Thursday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Scott said today that police had not yet spoken to the man, who was reported to be in a stable condition.

"We're waiting for advice from the medical experts as to when we can do that," he said.

"Over the next few days we should be able to speak to him and get his side of the story."

Mr Scott said inquiries were continuing this weekend into the incident.

He said a decision on whether any charges would be laid was not expected until next week.

The man was shot by gun dealer Greg Carvell, whose father, Ray Carvell, a fellow director of the gunshop, said he had not choice but to shoot when the man threatened him with a machete.

He said his son had saved his own life, the life of the shop manager, and possibly the lives of others who would have been at risk had the man not been stopped.

The Civil Liberties Council said police should not rush into prosecuting Mr Carvell.

If there was reasonable evidence pointing towards his acting in self defence, he should not be prosecuted.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust went further by saying Mr Carvell should be given a medal and the only person who should be prosecuted was the attempted burglar.

- NZPA