06-24-2007, 04:10 PM
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Rep Power: 10  Points: 25,811, Level: 70 | | Video games blamed for teens shooting at police pursuers
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Violent car racing video games are suspected to have influenced two 14-year-old boys who shot at police with a high-calibre rifle during a dramatic chase near Tauranga.
Yesterday morning's drama unfolded when police in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, spotted a stolen high-performance Ford Falcon XR6. It ended when the pair aimed a rifle at police and tried to steal a patrol car before being tackled to the ground by two unarmed officers and a police dog.
"It was like one of those video games the kids play where they steal a car and shoot at police," said Inspector Karl Wright St Clair, of Tauranga. Asked if he was making a direct link between video games and yesterday's incident, he said: "Well, they don't come up with these things by themselves."
Mr Wright St Clair would not name the games he was referring to, but there are several on the market, including the controversial Grand Theft Auto, in which players steal cars and tear through city streets causing death and destruction.
Police in Te Puke spotted the Falcon - stolen from a rural property near Ruatoki, 100 kilometres away - early yesterday morning. It was chased toward Tauranga on State Highway 2, driving over road spikes and getting two flat tyres, before heading into Mt Maunganui.
Shots from a .303 rifle were fired out the back window at police as the chase moved down Girven Rd, a suburban Mt Maunganui street, about 4.20am.
Made to stop, one of the boys aimed the firearm at police, forcing them to retreat. The boys then tried to take a police car but were brought down by the two officers and a dog, whose actions were "nothing short of heroic", Mr Wright St Clair said.
The officers were "very traumatised" and were receiving counselling. "We are not used to this sort of thing in Mt Maunganui, it's fairly horrific really."
Mr Wright St Clair said it was lucky that no one had been seriously hurt.
One of the bullets fired had lodged in the stolen car, while the path of the other one was being investigated.
Most Girven Rd residents slept through the early morning excitement, though some reported hearing sirens, squealing tyres and racing engines.
Mr Wright St Clair said the gun had also been stolen from Ruatoki. Three other firearms were found in the stolen car, including a shotgun.
Two 14-year-olds are expected to appear in Tauranga Youth Court today facing several charges, including aggravated burglary, escaping custody, aggravated assault and using a firearm against police, a crime which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' jail.
| - NZPA |
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