Man shot dead by police at NZ shopping center after chase

An armed man fleeing from police was shot and killed at Sylvia Park Shopping Center in New Zealand's Auckland on Thursday afternoon, police said, reported Xinhua.

Police received information at around 2:00 p.m. local time about the theft of an air rifle from a gun store in Penrose in suburban Auckland, and the offender fled in a vehicle, said a police statement.

A police helicopter located the vehicle near Sylvia Park, where police deployed road spikes before it became stranded outside the shopping center.

The offender fled on foot with the air rifle and was shot by police after being pursued to an entrance of the shopping center. First aid was immediately provided, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said.

Police have launched a critical incident investigation and said there was no ongoing risk to the public.