Fatal police shooting: Jerrim Marshall Toms was facing criminal charges

The man shot dead by police on Saturday was facing active criminal charges, including failing to stop for police. Jerrim Marshall Toms, 29, died about 4am on Saturday after being shot by officers on State Highway 1 north of Puhoi.

The Onehunga man twice confronted officers with a machete and was believed to be under the influence of drugs when he was fatally shot.

The

Herald

has learned Toms was due to appear in the Auckland District Court on charges of failing to stop for police and dangerous driving when he died.

Jerrim Toms was killed by police gunfire on Saturday. Photograph Facebook

Court staff confirmed no suppressions were in place around Toms' case.

Police withdrew the charges shortly after his death.

Police have yet to publicly release Toms' name at the request of his family and have declined to comment on his identity.

However the Herald confirmed yesterday that Toms was the man who had been shot.

The police, coroner and Independent Police Conduct Authority are all making inquiries into why and how Toms was killed.

Police have released basic information to the media about the chain of events that led to Toms' death.

Officers were called to an Onehunga address just after 3am on Saturday by a woman reporting that Toms was acting erratically.

She left the property, fearing for her safety.

Police arrived at 3.10am but Toms was not there.

Less than half an hour later, a police officer on his way home from work saw a car pulled over with its hazard lights on SH1 north of Auckland.

The car sped off when the police officer approached, and then stopped again.

The officer also stopped and the driver got out and approached the driver's side of the patrol car.

He had a machete and was threatening the officer.

The officer drove away from Toms and called for backup.

Toms then got back into his car and headed south on SH1 towards Puhoi.

More police, including the Eagle helicopter, were called to help.

Police said Toms was travelling at up to 150km/h and turned off his lights at times.

His car was stopped only after police put down road spikes at Pohuehue about 3.50am on Saturday.

Police closed a 27km section of State Highway 1 north of Auckland after officers shot a man dead on Saturday. New Zealand Herald photograph

As officers got out of their car to speak to Toms, he advanced on them, again armed with a machete.

Police shot at Toms and he was struck and killed.

Officers tried first aid and called an ambulance, but Toms died at the scene.

Detective Inspector John Sutton said yesterday that police had met Toms' family and updated them about the investigation, including the preliminary findings of the autopsy.

"While initial indications are that drugs may be a factor, it is unclear what led this man to behave in such a way," he said.

"Police hope to answer this for the family and all concerned."

It was earlier revealed that Toms was believed to have mental health issues.

Sutton said police were "committed to undertaking a thorough and transparent investigation" but there was "still much to learn about the incident and the contributing factors to it".

Toms' family have declined to comment on his death.

Where to get help

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757