Whanganui shooting: 'He must be going through hell'

Savey Kevin Sous and his partner were in Whanganui for the Christmas holidays. PHOTO / FACEBOOK

A neighbour of the Whanganui house where an armed man was fatally shot by police on Friday night said the shot man had been at the property for only a few days.

Savey Kevin Sous, 32, was shot dead by police at the rear of the property on Friday night after he presented a sawn-off shotgun at officers.

Police were called to a domestic dispute involving Sous and his partner. Sous was known to police and had a history of violence.

The neighbour, who declined to be named, said Sous and his partner had been in town several days after travelling from Upper Hutt for the Christmas holidays.

"I didn't see much of [Sous]. We heard the commotion then received a telephone call from the police who told us to stay indoors and move to the far side of the house, until they rang again with the all clear.

"We did not hear the shots."

The neighbour said he did not know much about Sous but he did know the occupant.

"Jimmy's a likeable guy, he didn't deserve this," the neighbour said.

He spent a few minutes yesterday mowing his neighbour's Mitchell St front verge.

"It's the least I could do."

He said Jimmy's partner died two years' ago and her daughter [Sous' partner] moved to Wellington soon afterwards.

Jimmy worked shiftwork and was a good neighbour, he said.

"Mowing his lawn seems the least I can do. He must be going through hell."

Meanwhile, Helen Puhipuhi is principal at Born and Raised Pasifika pre-school directly opposite the house.

She said she witnessed much of the aftermath the next day and there were a lot of coming and goings of the police, media and the public.

She was gardening and painting at the school for the new term the day of the shooting but left about an hour before the incident.

"I'm glad I wasn't there to witness that. I'm very glad the children weren't at school."

Sous was of Cambodian descent but had lived in New Zealand for about 20 years.

Vijeshwar Prasad, president of the Whanganui Multicultural Council, said Sous was not known to the local Cambodian community.

"I have spoken with one or two Cambodians and they did not know him.

"He lived in Wellington, He did not live in Whanganui. He had some type of relationship here."

Mr Prasad said the Multicultural Council condemned domestic violence.

Earlier, Central District Area Commander Sue Schwalger said a post-mortem examination confirmed Sous suffered two bullet wounds - one in the torso and one in the shoulder.

Schwalger also confirmed three shots were fired, by a single officer.

A detailed forensic examination into the event was ongoing.

"This is focused on examining, documenting and recovering all relevant evidence from the scene, including where possible the location of the third bullet fired by police staff," Schwalger said.

Police were also continuing their area canvassing around Mitchell St.

"We'd like to hear from anyone who was in the area of Mitchell St on Friday evening around 7pm, who has not already been spoken to by police, and ask that they call Whanganui Police on 06 349 0600."

The officers involved in the incident continued to receive the appropriate support and welfare, Schwalger said.

Sous' family were also receiving ongoing support from police and victim support.