Latest news with #Bryndwr
RNZ News
4 days ago
- RNZ News
Neighbours question fatal police shooting that left woman dead, partner critically injured
Police at the scene of the fatal shooting at Clyde Road in Bryndwr, Christchurch on Thursday morning. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns Warning: This story contains details of suicide and family violence. "What the f**k have you done?" The distressed scream of the woman rang out across the tight-knit Christchurch neighbourhood. Then a gunshot followed. On Friday morning, neighbours recounted the harrowing scenes and sounds of a late-night police shooting in Bryndwr that left the woman dead and her partner critically injured. Officers were called to the Kāinga Ora property about 11pm on Wednesday after a report of family harm. A caller to 111 reported a man at the Clyde Road house had a knife and was threatening his partner and himself. The person making the call was not at the address. Soon after, police fired at the man and then the woman, who they say ignored an appeal to put down the hunting knife. Sarah Thompson, who lives nearby, told RNZ she was struggling to understand how someone who was the apparent victim of family harm could end up killed by the very police officers called to help her. "She was distressed," she said. "After that first shot, she was distressed. It was 'what the f**k have you done' and then boom - another shot." Thompson had many unanswered questions. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns "I don't understand why they went in there with weapons for a domestic violence callout," she said. "She came running out of the house - she is a victim - who do you ring when you've got domestic violence going on?" Thompson also questioned the lack of support for people who were traumatised by the tragedy. "I can't believe that not one of them [police] have come to support any of us as neighbours," she said. "Those gunshots were loud as f**k. Her screams were loud as f**k. After all that chaos, their dogs for ages were uncontrollably barking. That's all I can hear - the boom, her screaming, then the other boom and then the dogs going crazy. No-one has been over to us." Kino Hunt, another neighbour, laid flowers on Friday morning at the driveway to the home. Hunt had spent time with the woman who was killed and frequently saw the couple walking their dogs. She was angry more was not done to de-escalate the situation. "They're going in with guns, that's not right. Just ring me, I'll come and de-escalate it. At least she would have lived," Hunt said. She too was concerned the shooting could discourage family violence victims from calling police, as they would fear a similar response. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns Hunt also lacked confidence in police to investigate what happened. "I think they're trying to justify their wrongdoing - because that's not how you help people," she said. Wayne Hood lived right next door to the couple. "When we moved in she helped us get our power on at our house," he said. "It's all pretty upsetting. They were just a normal couple, just having problems like every other normal couple. They were good neighbours." The couple's problems were known around the neighbourhood, where people reported regular and loud fighting. On Thursday, friends told RNZ there were issues with addiction and mental health. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns Hood said the pair kept to themselves. "They came over and apologised to us for arguing and stuff. It's just normal," he said. Police said the man was in a critical but stable condition in hospital after surgery. Canterbury district commander superintendent Tony Hill said police were still examining the scene. "In the coming days, a post-mortem is expected to be carried out on the woman who died at the scene," he said. "Cordons and a scene guard will remain in place at the property while the scene examination is completed. Incidents such as this are complex and a range of investigations are already underway. As such, we are limited in the detail we can provide at this stage." RNZ has asked police whether the armed offenders squad or negotiations team were requested or deployed, along with a detailed timeline of how the shooting unfolded on Wednesday. Police have so far refused to release further details. If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- RNZ News
Woman killed by police in Christchurch named as Te Arohanui Pohio
The scene of the shooting on Friday morning where police cordons have now been lifted. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns The woman shot dead by an officer after police responded to a report of family harm in Christchurch was 53-year-old Te Arohanui Pohio. Police were called to the Kāinga Ora property on Clyde Road in the suburb of Bryndwr on Wednesday night. The woman's partner was wounded by police and remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. Police say the man came out of the house with a hunting knife and was shot after which the woman picked up the knife and began approaching police. Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill during a press conference about the shooting. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said the man had surgery on Thursday afternoon. A scene examination was continuing with a post-mortem of the woman expected in the coming days. Cordons have been lifted but police guards remain at the scene of the Clyde Road property on Friday. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns "Incidents such as this are complex and a range of investigations are already underway," Hill said. "As such, we are limited in the detail we can provide at this stage. "Police are supporting the family of both the man and woman, as well as our own people." Officers involved in critical incidents such as fatal shootings were provided full welfare and wellness support, he said. Flowers at the scene of the shooting. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Man shot by police in Christchurch still in critical condition
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill during a press conference about the shooting. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon A man wounded in a police shooting at a Christchurch Kāinga Ora home remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. The man's partner was shot dead by an officer after police went to the Kāinga Ora property on Clyde Road in the suburb of Bryndwr on Wednesday night following a report of family harm. Police say the man came out of the house with a hunting knife and was shot after which the woman picked up the knife and began approaching police. Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said the man had surgery on Thursday afternoon. A scene examination was continuing with a post-mortem of the woman expected in the coming days. Cordons and a scene guard would remain in place at the property. "Incidents such as this are complex and a range of investigations are already underway," Hill said. "As such, we are limited in the detail we can provide at this stage. "Police are supporting the family of both the man and woman, as well as our own people." Officers involved in critical incidents such as fatal shootings were provided full welfare and wellness support, he said.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Former police officer describes how police are trained to respond to 'frightening' threats
Lance Burdett. Photo: SUPPLIED The officer who shot and killed a woman brandishing a hunting knife will have had a split second to react in a "frightening" scenario, a former top police negotiator says. On Wednesday night, the Christchurch officer first shot and critically injured a man who was carrying a hunting knife and chasing his partner from their Bryndwr home. They then shot and killed the woman when she picked up the knife and threatened officers. Police figures showed 55 people had been shot dead by an officer between 1916 and the end of the last year - and just one of those who died was a woman. Lance Burdett, who led negotiations with Jan Molenaar during the 2009 Napier siege, said officers were trained to use the most effective, least lethal method when they're threatened by someone with a weapon. "So, you start off with, can a baton be used? Can a taser be used? And then if that's not available, a firearm," he said. "But when you're in the heat of the moment like that, and particularly if they're in close proximity... you don't have time to get your weapon out, the necessary one that's available." Officers had to make split second decisions to keep themselves and others safe, said Burdett. They are trained to shoot at the "centre mass" because it's the largest part of the body - but unfortunately, that is where vital organs are, he said. "I hear people saying 'why couldn't you shoot them in the leg?'. Well, you try, when somebody's running at you. "This is not the movies, this is real life and it's frightening." A hunting knife is a large, dangerous weapon that can do serious harm, Burdett said. Police on Clyde Road the day after they fatally shot a woman, and critically wounded a man in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon Police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority are both investigating. The officer's decision to shoot would form a "large part" of the investigation, said Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill. Burdett said within a few days, that officer would be formally interviewed "like any other person" as part of a criminal investigation. "You're given the Bill of Rights, you have the right to have a lawyer with you, and they will go through and interview exactly the same as any other person that's in that situation," he said. The officer would also be supported by police and the union, Burdett said. The Police Association President Chris Cahill declined to comment. Police at the site of a double shooting that resulted in one dead and one critically injured in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ/Sam Sherwood Police were called to the Clyde Rd property in Bryndwr, Christchurch about 11pm on Wednesday after a person known to the couple called police to say the man was armed with a knife and threatening to hurt himself and his partner. When officers arrived, the woman ran out of the house, followed by the man with a hunting knife. "Police believed the woman was in risk of imminent serious harm, and fired a single shot, which hit the man," Commander Superintendent Hill said. An officer approached the man to provide first aid, he said. "The woman has picked up the knife and began to threaten officers, 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." Officers immediately provided medical assistance, but she died at the scene, Hill said. A nearby resident told RNZ the couple were "always fighting", while their church pastor said the community had been devastated by the incident. The injured man was in a stable condition in Christchurch Hospital. The police cordons at the scene were lifted on Thursday night. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Woman killed, man shot by police
A woman is dead after being shot by the police officers called to her home over concerns for her safety. A man remains in hospital in a stable condition after also being shot by police. Officers were called to the Kainga Ora property in the Christchurch suburb of Bryndwr about 11 o'clock last night after a person who knew the pair reported concerns for their safety as the man had a knife. 10 police officers went to the home with one officer armed with a long-rifle firing a single round at the man and another round at the woman. Timothy Brown reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
