Papatoetoe Fatal Shooting: The man had called his cousin over a drink a few hours before being fatally shot by police

The man who was shot dead by police in the early hours of Monday, April 20, had called his cousin over a drink. 

The Indian Weekender is aware of the identity of the deceased and has chosen not to reveal at this time. 

The Papatoetoe man is said to have a family dispute over a property in Ba, Fiji with his half-brother living there. His cousin Rajiv Raja told the Indian Weekender that he was often upset about the disputed property in Fiji and would get upset every time the subject came into the conversation. 

“He would get very upset and agitated whenever the topic of his disputed property would come in conversation. He would often share the details of property-dispute with me and the heated arguments with his half-brother living in Fiji,” Rajiv Raja said. 

“Last evening, around 6:30 p.m., he called me home for a drink to which I refused saying its lockdown, and we should be staying in our respective bubbles," Mr Raja said. 

The deceased's cousin Rajiv Raja (Photo: Facebook)

“What I know from what happened after that phone call is that he started drinking in his house and had a heated argument with his half-brother again who is lives in Fiji."

“A little later, he got agitated and started smashing things inside the house. In a fit of rage, he picked a machete as well to which his partner living with him asked him to leave the house. 

“Once outside the house, he started smashing the machete on to parked cars, windows and tried cutting the powerlines as well,” cousin Rajiv Raja added. 

Police, earlier this morning revealed that thirteen separate calls were made to 111 by fearful residents who were worried and scared about the man’s behaviour brandishing a machete and damaging things on the street. 

“He should have put down his weapon when asked by police,” the cousin told the Indian Weekender. 

The deceased man is survived by his wife and a daughter, who does not live with him. His mother died a long time back, and his father lives in Fiji. 

“I am in total shock right now, just last evening we were supposed to have a drink together and a few hours later he died of the bullet wound shot by the police,” the cousin Rajiv Raja said. 

More to come.