Police Confirm One Person Dead In Upper Hutt Shooting

Police have just confirmed in a statement that one person is dead following a shooting incident in Upper Hutt this afternoon.

"Police received reports of a man armed with a firearm at around 12.40pm at the Upper Hutt McDonalds on Main Street. When police arrived at the scene a man presented a firearm at police and was shot by armed staff."

Immediate medical attention was provided but he died a short time later.

Wellington Free Ambulance spokeswoman Di Livingston said two ambulances were dispatched.

However, an off-duty paramedic was already there and first to reach the shot man.

"We attempted to resuscitate a man but weren't successful," she said.

No other people were treated or transported by ambulance.

The incident unfolded outside the McDonald's restaurant on the corner of Main St and Fergusson Drive.

McDonald's spokeswoman Kim Bartlett said the store was "now officially a crime scene".

"All our staff are safe and no customers have been hurt," she said.

"That's really all I can say. You will need to speak to the police about that."

Deborah Hawkins, who works in a nearby business, said she heard three shots.

"There was a gunman on the loose and we heard shots being fired.

"The police shot him and was he was taken off in an ambulance at about 1.40pm.

She heard the first shot about 12.45pm, she said.

"And then about 20 minutes after that we heard about two more shots.

"We could see the police outside our window with guns running up down the street."

Nikki Hearfield was working at near the incident, where people rushed into a Subway store to seek shelter. "We locked all the doors, everyone away from the windows, then we saw police running up the street."

Another witness said that about midday a man who looked intimidating was arguing with police in the street.

They were talking for about 45 minutes before police shot the man.

Witness Vasely Sapunov was in his car on Main St when he saw three people run past with shopping trolleys. He then saw a police car, sirens blaring, following and decided to start live streaming on social media video site Periscope.

"I thought it was a bit of a laugh... some kind of low-level theft... so I started live streaming it," he said.

"Then heaps and heaps of cops started storming the street. Officers were screaming for people to get in the buildings... the street started to empty out. There wasn't anyone anywhere.

Mr Sapunov stayed in his car and kept filming.

"I started freaking out when the shots were fired... I definitely heard one shot.

"That's when I knew things were popping off, and I started freaking out."

Nearby St Joseph's school went into lockdown briefly but was told about 1.35pm that the situation was safe. A spokesman said it was lunchtime when the alarm was raised so bells rang and the children went briefly back into their classrooms.

Labour MP Chris Hipkins' Upper Hutt electorate office is down the road from the McDonald's.

Mr Hipkins said his staff are in Parliament today and so his office was closed at the time of the shooting.

His housemate is in lockdown in the mall nearby and is keeping him updated, he said.

"I'll await more official details before making comment. For now I encourage everyone to follow the instructions of the Police and keep safe."

Mr Guppy said police had advised him there would be ongoing disruption in the area.

- Additional reporting from Newstalk ZB

- NZ Herald