A man has been arrested after allegedly firing at least six shots at police officers with a sophisticated BB gun in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon.
At least one of the shots hit an officer in the chest, but he was uninjured due to his protective vest.
Police say they were called after reports of a man acting suspiciously near a house in Royal Oak.
When police approached a man who matched the description, he allegedly pulled a BB gun from a backpack he was holding and began firing it at the two officers.
The third was shot in the chest, but was uninjured.
In total, at least six steel-pellet shots were fired from the gas-powered gun. One hit a police car and shattered its window, while another which hit and dented a nearby car.
Auckland City Police Inspector Gary Davey said it was "sheer luck" that no one, either police or members of the public, were injured.
"In the space of a few moments this man has quickly pulled out a gun and shot at our staff," he said.
"It is yet another example of what our staff are faced with every day and how quickly a situation can escalate."
The 44-year-old man was unsuccessfully tasered by the officers before being disarmed with pepper spray. One was cut in the face in the ensuing struggle.
He was later found to have had several knives on him, including a butterfly knife and a large knife down the back of his pants, police said.
The man has since been taken arrested and will appear in Auckland District Court on Wednesday.
Newshub.
