Two distinct gunshots echoed through the dark on Tuesday night as a passenger in a fleeing car leaned out of the back window and fired directly at a pursuing police vehicle in Napier.
Officers on routine patrol attempted to stop the vehicle in the suburb of Pirimai at approximately 10pm, 1News reported. The driver refused to pull over, sparking a high-speed pursuit that quickly escalated into a firearm attack on law enforcement.
Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb explained the terrifying moments as the chase neared a busy intersection.
“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged,” he said. “Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”
Miraculously, neither of the responding officers sustained injuries in the shooting, and the patrol vehicle avoided physical damage, according to 1News.
Hours after the brazen attack, authorities detected the targeted vehicle travelling hundreds of kilometers north along the Waikato Expressway toward Auckland, as detailed by the NZ Herald. Police subsequently located and seized the car at a residential property in the southern Auckland suburb of Manurewa.
While the vehicle was successfully recovered, the individual who allegedly discharged the firearm remains at large, according to reporting by RNZ. Officers in Counties Manukau are actively assisting the Eastern District team with ongoing inquiries.
Lamb condemned the reckless actions of the suspects, emphasizing the profound danger introduced to both frontline personnel and the surrounding community.
“Presenting a firearm at a police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk,” he said. “This behaviour is entirely unacceptable. We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”
Residents at the Manurewa property where authorities discovered the car are cooperating with the police investigation.
Investigators urge any witnesses who observed the pursuit or the firearm discharge to contact authorities immediately. Members of the public can reach Police on 105 or submit details online referencing case number 261111/3764, while anonymous tips are welcomed through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
