A man received a gunshot wound and died of his injuries in an exchange of fire with police in the Hillcrest suburb of Hamilton last evening.
Police this morning confirmed that the man who died was shot by Police.
According to Waikato District Commander, Superintendent Bruce Bird at about 7.50pm yesterday, officers went to the property on O’Donoghue Street in Hillcrest seeking a person thought to be in possession of firearms.
About 10pm a man arrived at the property and fired a number of shots from his vehicle.Update(16th July): police has confirmed today the weapon fired at officers was a military-style semi-automatic firearm.
He was then shot by Police. First aid was administered immediately, however the man died at the scene a short time later.
In an update early this morning, the police, however,confirmed that during the incident a Police Officer fell and sustained an injury requiring medical treatment. he has undergone surgery and remains in hospital in a stable condition.
A scene guard was in place overnight and members of the public were asked to avoid the area.
Police remain at the address this morning and a range of enquiries are underway.
Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
“Our staff come to work every day to keep our communities safe and the decision to use a firearm is never done lightly,” says Superintendent Bruce Bird.
“Our sympathies are with the man’s family at this difficult time,” he adds.
The Police will release man’s name once formal identification is complete.
This follows an earlier incident when a police officer was shot and wounded in Hamilton a few days back. While the enquiries are still ongoing and a man has been arrested and charged. It is understood the officer remains in Waikato Hospital in a stable condition.
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