A woman has died and a man was critically injured in a police shooting in Christchurch overnight.
In an update shortly after midday, Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said the man was now in a stable, but critical, condition in hospital and police did not believe his injuries to be life-threatening.
Hill said police were called to a residential address in Clyde Road, Bryndwr about 11pm, after receiving a report of a man armed with a knife, threatening to hurt himself and his partner.
He said based on this information, officers made the “tactical decision” to arm themselves as they approached the address.
Police were called to a residential address in Clyde Road, Bryndwr about 11pm. (Source: 1News)
“As police approached the address, a woman has run out of the house, closely followed by a man in possession of a hunting knife. Police believed the woman was at risk of imminent serious harm, and fired a single shot, which hit the man. “
The man was critically injured, and an officer approached to provide first aid.
The woman subsequently picked up the knife and threatened police.
“Despite an appeal for her to put down the weapon, she has advanced on police, brandishing the knife. A second shot was fired, hitting the woman,” Hill said.
He said both shots were fired by the same officer using a rifle.
Officers immediately provided medical assistance, however she died at the scene.
From the scene of the shooting – Watch on TVNZ+
The injured man was transported to hospital.
Hill said support was in place for the 10 officers who were at the scene.
“Drawing a firearm is one of the last things that a police officer wants to do. It was likely one of the most significant decisions they may have to make in their career,” he said.
Asked if the right tactical option was used, Hill said officers had the “normal, full array of tactical options that our frontline have available”.
“I think it’s inappropriate for me to say at this stage whether they were the right decisions at the time, that will be part of the investigation. But I will say it was a highly dynamic situation.”
Asked if it was standard practice for police to be armed in this situation, Hill said: “Decisions about arming when going to jobs is case by case, and based on the threat that was there at the time.”
The woman dies at the scene in the Christchurch suburb of Bryndwr while the man was critically injured. (Source: 1News)
He said his thoughts were both with the family of those shot, and with the police involved.
A critical incident investigation into the incident was under way and the incident will also be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), as is standard for any incident involving a police shooting.
‘The initial shock of it’ – friend
Nathan Light said he had known the couple for more than two years, and that both had battled with addiction.
He said recently the pair were “doing really well” and “sorting their lives out”.
“They still had a few, sort of, mental health problems that needed to be dealing with.”
“It’s just the initial shock of it, that’s the bit that gets you. And the closeness to home.”
He said his partner had visited them last night and was in a “weird headspace”.
Holding back tears, Light said it was “really sad to see” things like this still happening due to addiction, which he said he’d also battled with.
“A lot of them [addicts] want help too. A lot of them tried to seek help, but it just falls on deaf ears.”
