Funeral is priority for family of shot man

Lachan Kelly-Tumarae was shot and killed by police in the early hours of Monday, March 28. Photo / Supplied

The family of the 19-year-old killed by police near Napier say they want to bury him before they think about his last moments alive.

Lachan Kelly-Tumarae's family were yesterday waiting for his body to be returned after a post-mortem examination in Palmerston North.

The teenager was killed by a bullet fired by a Napier police officer early on Monday morning.

Police say the officer feared for his life when Kelly-Tumarae pointed a shotgun at him after officers followed him to Fernhill, 15km from Napier.

He was seen acting suspiciously by a parked car in suburban Maraenui.

His uncle James Tumarae yesterday said it would be some time before anyone had any answers about events leading up to the shooting.

Two investigations have begun into the death - a homicide inquiry and one by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock warned it would be a "slow and meticulous process" but Mr Tumarae said the family were only interested in preparing for the funeral.

"At this point in time I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'm just waiting for my nephew to come home."

Family were gathering from throughout the country and were still shocked someone they believed was "a really good kid" had been in a police shooting.

"It's the biggest shock I've ever had - probably the biggest one anyone could have," Mr Tumarae said.

Kelly-Tumarae returned to Hawkes Bay, where he grew up, only two weeks before he was killed. He had been living in Christchurch with his mother but moved north after the continuing aftershocks unsettled him.

He had completed a boot camp-style army course in Wellington in an attempt to break away from gangs.

Family believe his links with gangs had been severed but do not know what caused him to take his grandfather's duckshooting gun and confront police.