A police officer who fired 14 shots when he fatally gunned down a Hawke's Bay teenager is not criminally liable for his death, according to a police investigation.
Fourteen months after the standoff in Omahu, near Fernhill, police yesterday released their findings and met with the family of Lachan Kelly-Tumarae, 19, to discuss specific details of how the teenager died after taking police on a pursuit from the Napier suburb of Maraenui to Omahu.
The report said about 2am on March 28 last year, four of the 14 shots fired struck the teenager.
One shot hit him in the abdomen and one passed through his right thigh. There was also a second shot to his right leg and a bullet fragment entered his left shoe, causing a superficial injury to his foot. Neither of these two shots would have proved fatal.
Police said a number of the shots were discharged before the officer realised he was firing too low.
"The threat remained to police and the officer fired more shots that resulted in Mr Kelly-Tumarae falling to the ground," the statement said.
Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock, of Auckland, said the police investigation was to determine any criminal liability on the part of police.
Mr Lovelock said events happened "very quickly" and it was only 26 seconds from the time the teenager stepped from the car with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun until the shooting was over.
Wearing a full cartridge belt slung across his chest, he got out of the car and presented the firearm at police. "He had posed a significant threat to police, pointing his loaded shotgun at police in a car at point-blank range."
Four police officers confirmed they saw Mr Kelly-Tumarae with the shotgun pointed at their colleagues. After he fell to the ground, he was handcuffed by police due to his "aggressive behaviour". When police saw the extent of his injuries the handcuffs were removed and the officers provided immediate medical assistance.
The teenager's mother, Mere Tumarae, said she was disappointed at how long the investigation had taken.
"It [shooting] was only 26 seconds, that's a short time span," Mrs Tumarae said. "But it seems in that time police have built up a story, maybe even a concocted one. I've yet to decide what to really believe."
While yesterday's meeting with police was welcomed, the Christchurch-based mother still sought answers. "My family has asked police further questions so I'll wait to see what happens with those before I can say anything for sure," Mrs Tumarae said.
She was still "bewildered" with why her "baby", and only child, had been heavily armed. "Me and his aunty used to make sure he didn't go near that stuff. We never even wanted him to play with guns ... yes it's very surprising."
The case would now be referred to the coroner. An Independent Police Conduct Authority inquiry into the shooting had yet to be finalised.
Police confirmed the officer had since returned to work.