A man fatally shot by police was holding a knife to the throat of a woman inside a suburban Wellington home, police have revealed. Video / Mark Mitchell
A man linked to the King Cobras gang was shot dead by police in the Wellington suburb of Newlands yesterday.
Loved ones of the man, who police have yet to name, have been posting tributes to him on social media.
"Ftp [F*** the police] rest in peace my uso," wroteone person. "See you soon AIGA."
According to a report from the New Zealand Gang Intelligence Centre, the foundation of the King Cobras is "Aiga", which is the Samoan word for family and has three core values – honour, loyalty, and respect.
Police confirmed today that the man was shot dead as he held a knife to a woman's throat.
"I don't think their history was unbroken. It appears as though they faded away and then came back at a later point."
The King Cobras gang started in the 1950s and was predominantly an Auckland gang for a long time. Photo / Getty Images
While they had been in Auckland - particularly in Ponsonby before it was gentrified - for decades, they have now spread out around the country, including to Wellington. The move seems to have only happened in the last 10 years or so, he said.
"I mean, they're in the South Island now, which would have been unthinkable before."
The gang has a strong focus on the Pacific.
"I don't think there are any other patched gangs that have that core focus."
Police guard the scene of the shooting on Tuesday night. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The National Gang Intelligence Centre report also said King Cobra members had a number of convictions for abduction for sex and accessory to serious crime.
"They have a large number of drug related offences as well as failure to comply with sanctions imposed by both the court and police," the report said.
"Firearms and violence are a frequent feature of most offending committed by King Cobra members."
Officers were called to a family harm incident on Kingsbridge Pl on Tuesday as a man was attempting to barricade himself inside a house with a female victim. Officers could see the man holding a knife to the woman's throat and were "gravely concerned" for her safety.
Police say the man was threatening officers and in return they fired several shots at him, causing critical injuries. A social media video has reportedly since emerged showing police entering the property. A woman on the video says, "oh my god, they're chasing him with guns."
Several shots are then heard ringing out across the suburb as dogs bark in the background.
Police staff today at the scene of the fatal police shooting. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Police said the man was immediately given medical attention but died shortly after he was shot.
His female victim received non-life-threatening injuries, and a child at the property, who was able to escape before the shooting, was physically unharmed.
Inspector Thompson told reporters today that police would not be releasing any details about the man, but did confirm he had gang connections.
Several patched members of the King Cobras gang were at the police cordon yesterday aggressively approaching police.
Thompson confirmed some of the man's associates were at the scene yesterday, and said police would continue to engage with them but any tensions that rose were able to be resolved last night.
Newlands resident Ruth Mead told Newshub last night she had seen scenes like this on the news but didn't expect to see them on her own street.
"Six shots real quick, like 'boom boom boom boom boom boom', and like I said to my neighbour 'I've been here for 20 years, never seen this many cops'.
"It was terrible," she said. "It's pretty scary."
Another nearby resident, Amy Merrin, told the Herald she heard at least five gunshots, one after the other, about 3.50pm.
"Very clear and loud," she said.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - DO YOU NEED HELP?
If you're in danger now:
• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you. • Run outside and head for where there are other people. • Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you. • Take the children with you. • Don't stop to get anything else. • If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay
Where to go for help or more information:
• Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz • Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz • Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 • It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz
