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Neighbours of the Feilding house where police fatally shot a man have described watching and listening to officers trying to negotiate with him during an eight-hour standoff.
More police officers are on the ground today conducting a scene examination and providing assurance to locals, Central District Commander Superintendent Scott Fraser said.
”This event would have no doubt concerned some residents but we would like to reassure people that this was an isolated incident.”
Police were called to the house in Seddon St shortly before 1pm on Sunday, after reports that a man had shot at a neighbour’s window.
About 9pm, the man was shot by police after presenting a firearm at officers, and was critically injured, Fraser said.
Medical assistance was immediately provided but the man died after being transported to hospital.
Fraser told RNZ’s Midday Report the man was known to police and officers had been called out to his home previously. He did not have the exact details of how many times they were called or how recently.
Son makes appeal during standoff
Neighbours said the man caused trouble on the street, and they understood he was shooting at his neighbour’s house as he believed they had called dog control.
One said the man lived at the Seddon St house with his son, who police got to speak to him yesterday.
“Dad, please just come out,” the man’s son was heard saying.
Mark Bary lives on the street and said the man had also fired shots on Friday.
“He fired a couple of shots at a house next door, and then yesterday he started doing it again, and the people in the house rung the police.”
An armed police officer on guard outside the house on Seddon St, Feilding, where a man was shot by police on Sunday. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Police told neighbours to stay inside their homes, he said.
“They had a negotiator, he was out there talking, trying to get him to come out and telling him everything will be okay if he comes out.
“I think [the man] kept firing at the house next door, and then I think towards them as well.”
Bullet holes can be seen in the neighbour's window. Photo / Mark Mitchell
‘Feeling scared’
Manawatū District Council mayor Helen Worboys said some in the area were feeling unsafe.
“This is another in several incidents we’ve had over the past few months and I know some of our vulnerable senior people in our community are concerned and feeling scared.”
Often the incidents were not connected to the community - car chases in particular involved people from outside the area - but it added to the concern about police no longer being based in the town, she said.
The man was shot dead after a tense standoff with police at a property on Seddon St, Feilding. Photo / Google
“It’s all been centralised coming out of Palmerston North so that raises concerns and also the vulnerability people feel.”
Police were continuing scene examinations on Monday. The IPCA was being notified and support provided to the officers involved.
