Two investigations launched following a fatal shooting involving police at Auckland's largest mall yesterday are continuing today.
On Thursday, police said a man was shot and killed as he approached Sylvia Park Shopping Centre carrying a stolen air rifle.
Yesterday, Superintendent Sunny Patel said a critical incident investigation and an Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) investigation had been launched.
The mall, and surrounding businesses, were locked down for part of the afternoon.
The incident was sparked after police were called about the theft of an air rifle from Gun City in Penrose around 2pm.
Owner David Tipple told 1News the man was being shown the gun. "[He] grabbed it and ran out the store with three staff in pursuit. One staff member got close but he succeeded in driving off in a car."
Patrol units and the police Eagle helicopter were deployed to the scene where a white Suzuki Swift was seen travelling near Sylvia Park.
Spikes were successfully deployed but the car continued towards Mount Wellington Highway, still being driven in an erratic manner and the man was then confronted by officers underneath an overpass as he approached the entrance of Sylvia Park, still carrying the air rifle.
He was then shot by police.
Patel said it was not known whether the air rifle was loaded, or whether the man had any ammunition.
Patel was not aware of how many times the man was shot, whether there had been any attempt to detain him or whether he had aimed the weapon at anyone.
"That's something that will need to be uncovered when we carry out the full investigation, when we've actually spoken to the police officers involved," he said.
Patel said the deceased man was on bail.
Witnesses describe hearing shots
A witness told 1News that a man believed to be carrying a pistol run past him while being chased by around eight armed officers.
"And then they shot him – three shots. Bang."
The man was shot near the Foot Locker store, George Heller said.
"I didn’t know what to do. I just went and saw people next to me and made sure they were OK."
A restaurant worker at the mall told 1News they heard multiple gunshots before a major police presence swarmed the mall carpark.
Another witness at H&M inside the mall said she was on the bottom floor when she heard "three to four gunshots".
"Next thing I know, we’re being told, 'go upstairs! Go upstairs! Go upstairs!'"
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