Source: Independent Police Conduct Authority
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that, although two Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) officers were acting in self-defence when they fired at Astin Hooper immediately after he shot at them, their prior actions were not justified in the circumstances overall. The AOS officers escalated the situation by driving past an existing cordon towards Mr Hooper, which resulted in him firing at them.
The shooting happened on Thursday 21 February 2019, after Mr Hooper had stolen a shotgun and a ute from his father’s home and robbed the Kawerau Credit Union at about 9am. When local officers found Mr Hooper in the ute about 40 minutes later, Mr Hooper chased their Police car twice around a truck turning bay before driving off. Shortly afterwards, Police caught up to the ute and began pursuing Mr Hooper.
Actions of Armed Offenders Squad officers leading up to fatal shooting of Astin Hooper unjustified says IPCA
12 May, 2021 10:04 PM
4 minutes to read
The scene on State Highway 30, near the Te Teko racecourse where a man died after being shot in a police shootout in 2019. Photo / File
The scene on State Highway 30, near the Te Teko racecourse where a man died after being shot in a police shootout in 2019. Photo / File
Rotorua Daily Post
The actions of two Armed Offenders Squad members leading up to the fatal shooting of a Kawerau man were unjustified, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that, although two Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) officers were acting in self-defence when they fired at Astin Hooper immediately after he shot at them, their prior actions were not justified in the .
The Police watchdog has found two AOS officers were not justified in their actions leading to the fatal shooting of a man in Kawerau
The Police watchdog has found two AOS officers were not justified in their actions leading to the fatal shooting of a man in Kawerau 13 May 2021
In February 2019, Astin Hooper robbed the Kawerau Credit Union.
An eventful police chase that included him tailing officers around a truck turning bay, ended with a standoff
As AOS officers approached Hooper in his vehicle, he fired one shot at them - and the officers fatally returned fire.
The IPCA found officers were justified to shoot in self-defence, but shouldn t have approached him . and sought to de-escalate events by communicating with him.