A local resident has described hearing a succession of loud gunshots near the Taranaki scene where a man died in a police shooting last night.
The man died on Devon Rd, near Bell Block, after he was shot during a traffic stop at 9.30pm on Saturday night.
A person living nearby told the Herald she was lying in bed when she heard a loud volley of gunfire.
"I heard a 'bang, bang, bang' and I thought, what on earth was that," the resident said.
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An investigation into the shooting was ongoing today, with State Highway 3 closed between Mountain Rd and De Havilland Drive.
Two security guards have blocked the main highway off with cones and are diverting traffic.
A Herald reporter at the scene said it is usually a busy thoroughfare in and out of New Plymouth, so was likely to cause disruption today.
Earlier, police said they have identified the man and notified his next of kin.
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The incident occurred while police were conducting a vehicle stop on Devon Rd.
The man shot by police was critically injured.
"Medical assistance was immediately provided however, tragically, the man died at the scene," police said in a statement.
They said the Independent Police Complaints Authority had been notified of the incident and a Critical Incident Investigation was under way.
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Support would be provided to the officers involved and the dead man's family.
Police have remained at the scene overnight and road closures will remain in place until a scene examination has been completed.
