Pursuit abandoned after shots fired at police in South Auckland

1:47 pm on 7 August 2020

The hunt is on for two people who shot at police out of a car window in South Auckland last night.

Police lights

No-one was injured after a police car was fired at in Manurewa. Photo: 123RF

Police said a car on Weymouth Road in Manurewa had failed to stop for police, who started pursuing the vehicle shortly after 11.30pm.

After less than a minute, the driver pointed a gun from the window and fired a shot at the police, forcing officers to abandon the pursuit.

Counties Manukau Superintendent Jill Rogers said it was frightening for the officers involved.

"It is completely unacceptable that our officers, who leave their families to come to work to help keep our communities safe, should be put in this type of situation.

"We will not tolerate this type of offending and our detectives will be carrying out a number of inquiries in an effort to identify and locate those responsible."

No-one was injured and the offender, or offenders, remain at large. The car they were travelling in was found abandoned.

She said the officers who were in the police car at the time were being supported by their colleagues.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105.

It follows another incident in West Auckland earlier this week, when a man pointed a gun a police officer in Glen Edne.

Less than two months ago, 28-year-old Waitematā police officer Matthew Hunt was shot dead on 19 June in the Auckland suburb of Massey.

His funeral was held at Eden Park in Auckland last month.

Constable Hunt was shot, and another officer injured, during a routine traffic stop.

Earlier in July, 30-year-old Natalie Jane Bracken was publicly identified as the woman charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact after losing her name suppression bid.

Both defendants are due to stand trial in July next year.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs