Police shooting: Investigation seeks grey van

Forensic examination of the site of the fatal police shooting of Lachan Kelly-Tumarae will wrap up today. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Forensic examination of the site of the fatal police shooting of Lachan Kelly-Tumarae will wrap up today but police are still appealing for sightings of a van seen in the area early that morning.

The 19-year-old was shot by an officer in Fernhill, 15km from Napier on Monday. Preliminary inquiries suggested Mr Kelly-Tumarae fired the shotgun he was carrying before being shot dead.

A grey van was seen in Wordsworth Crescent when police first approached Mr Kelly-Tumarae about 1.30am. It was driven by a middle-aged man and was carrying a passenger and seen coming out of the street and turning into Masefield Ave.

Police were still interested in speaking to the occupants of the van and wanted anyone with information about the van to come forward, police spokeswoman Kris McGehan told NZPA.

A post-mortem examination has confirmed that Mr Kelly-Tumarae died of a gunshot wound but police would not confirm who fired the shots or how many were discharged.

The man's uncle, James Tumarae, told NZPA Mr Kelly-Tumarae's body was back with family and would be taken to a marae this morning. A tangi had been planned for Friday.

Police first spotted Mr Kelly-Tumarae acting suspiciously near a vehicle parked on Wordsworth Crescent in suburban Maraenui. They say he pointed a shotgun when approached and police retreated.

He then drove to Fernhill on the outskirts of Hastings in a relative's Nissan Primera station wagon and was followed at a distance by several police cars with flashing lights.

Mr Kelly-Tumarae stopped abruptly and got out of his car on Taihape Rd, near the intersection with Korokipo Rd, where he again pointed the shotgun at police before being shot.

Officers attempted first aid but Mr Kelly-Tumarae died at Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital about 3am.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority is conducting an investigation alongside the police's homicide investigation and a coronial inquiry.

- NZPA