By RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission
A man has been hospitalised after being shot by police following an attempted carjacking on a West Auckland motorway.
In a statement, relieving district commander Waitematā Superintendent Shanan Gray said at about 3.20pm police signalled for a vehicle to stop on Te Atatū Road on the Te Atatū Peninsula, but it failed to do so.
Police pursued the vehicle west towards the Lincoln Road off-ramp, he said.
Gray said on the Lincoln Road overbridge, the driver got out of the vehicle with a firearm, and unsuccessfully tried to steal two other vehicles. One of those vehicles has hit the offender, he said.
Armed police were quickly on the scene and the offender then ran towards a truck and climbed in the passenger side of the cab resulting in the truck driver exiting out the driver’s door, he said.
Police then fired at the offender which resulted in him surrendering, Gray said.
The man was taken to hospital with gunshot injuries but they were not thought to be life threatening, he said. Police later told RNZ they took the man to hospital themselves – St John ambulance was notified around 3.38pm but were stood down by police en-route.
Police are considering charges and will notify the Independent Police Conduct Authority “as standard procedure in these situations”.
A scene examination will be carried out.
Police earlier said no-one had been injured.
The off-ramp to Lincoln Road was earlier closed, but it has now reopened.
Auckland Transport says 110 buses are now returning to their normal route.
