2009 Napier shootings
Encyclopedia
Jan Molenaar, 51, was born of Ngāti Kahungunu
extraction grew up in Napier where he went to Nelson Park Primary School, Napier Intermediate School and William Colenso
College. In the 1980s he spent six years in the territorial armoured corps of the Hawke's Bay and Wellington Regiment
. Molenaar is said to have been a loner, and to have missed his brother who had killed himself having experimented with the drug Methamphetamine
.
Senior Constables Snee, Miller and Diver attended an address in Napier during a routine cannabis investigation. An occupant of the house fired shots at the policemen, killing Snee and wounding Miller and Diver. A neighbour was also shot when he tried to intervene. Diver sheltered behind a neighbouring house where he was able to phone for back up. Armed Offenders members responded quickly; with the aid of two members of the public they pulled Miller to safety; armed officers also retrieved the injured civilian, Leonard Holmwood. The officers were commended for their bravery at rescuing their comrades by Prime Minister John Key
. Key also praised the police for their actions over the course of the Napier siege. Sacred Heart school, Nelson Park School, Napier Central School, Napier Intermediate and Napier Girls' High School
were all on lockdown for Thursday, and Nelson Park School, Napier Central School and Napier Intermediate were shut on Friday.
killed in the line of duty. A long serving officer who was well known to the local community, Snee was a member of the Armed Offenders Squad and worked on drugs cases. As with Molenaar, he was of Ngāti Kahungunu
extraction.
and funeral were well attended. Snee's tangi was at Takapau marae and his funeral in Napier's Municipal Theatre.
Molenaar's partner Delwyn Ismalia Keefe, a convicted drug dealer, has received $10,000 of ACC
compensation because Molenaar committed suicide. A restraining order has been issued against the house the two lived in and more than $90,000 in cash and bank accounts so the assets can be forfeited to the Crown once she is sentenced on the drug charges. She disputes accounts by others of the siege, saying Lenny Holmwood, who attempted to wrestle the gun from Molenaar, and is believed by police to have saved the lives of their two wounded officers, did not do so.
Holmwood has been recognized by the New Zealand Herald as its 2009 New Zealander of the Year for his heroism in saving Miller and Diver.
In 2011, Holmwood, two other civilians, 10 police officers and a paramedic received bravery medals for their actions during the shootings.
Ngati Kahungunu
Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke’s Bay and Tararua and Wairārapa regions....
extraction grew up in Napier where he went to Nelson Park Primary School, Napier Intermediate School and William Colenso
William Colenso
William Colenso was a Cornish Christian missionary to New Zealand, and also a printer, botanist, explorer and politician.-Life:Born in Penzance, Cornwall, he was the cousin of John William Colenso, Bishop of Natal...
College. In the 1980s he spent six years in the territorial armoured corps of the Hawke's Bay and Wellington Regiment
Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Regiment
The Wellington and Hawke's Bay Regiment is a Territorial Force unit of the New Zealand Army. It was formed in 1964 during the reorganisation of the army by the amalgamation of two separate regiments:*5th Wellington Regiment...
. Molenaar is said to have been a loner, and to have missed his brother who had killed himself having experimented with the drug Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
.
Timeline
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
. Key also praised the police for their actions over the course of the Napier siege. Sacred Heart school, Nelson Park School, Napier Central School, Napier Intermediate and Napier Girls' High School
Napier Girls' High School
Napier Girls High School is a state secondary school on Clyde Road, Napier, New Zealand. It has a current school roll of over 900.- Houses :There are house competitions in place with the four houses being:* Blue* Red* Green* Gold...
were all on lockdown for Thursday, and Nelson Park School, Napier Central School and Napier Intermediate were shut on Friday.
Thursday 7 May
- 9.30am: Senior Constables Len Snee, Bruce Miller and Grant Diver arrive at the home of Jan Molenaar, to serve a cannabis search warrant. Snee is shot dead, and the two other officers and a civilian are shot and wounded.
- 9.40am: Police cordon off the surrounding area and evacuate local residents.
- 10.00am: The injured officers Bruce Millar and Grant Diver are taken to hospital. Police fail to recover Snee's body after being shot at by the gunman.
- 11.03am: Police announced that "Police can confirm that three police officers have been involved in a shooting incident in Napier this morning. Two police officers have been injured and are in hospital. A third officer is unaccounted for at this stage."
- 12.25pm: More shots are fired, police talk to Molenaar through a loud hailer after which more shots are fired.
- 7.15pm: A Police website media release announced "Police have been unable at this point to extricate Senior Constable Snee."
- 8.05pm: The Special Tactics GroupSpecial Tactics GroupThe Special Tactics Group , formerly known as the Anti-Terrorist Squad, is the full-time tactical and counter-terrorism group of the New Zealand Police....
arrives aboard a UnimogUnimogUnimog is a range of multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The name Unimog is pronounced in German and is an acronym for the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for machine or device...
.
Friday 8 May
- 4.35pm: Two of the army's light armoured vehicles, followed by a police car with officers and a police dog inside, enter the cordoned area.
- 5.00pm: The body of Leonard Snee was retrieved under fire by Napier Police.
Saturday 9 May
- 3:30am: A volley of shots and a large explosion are heard. Police did not confirm where the shots came from. It was speculated that Police detonated an explosive device against the house's garage door.
- 12:00pm: Police discover the body of shooter Jan Molenaar in the first floor master bedroom.
Len Snee
Leonard "Len" Snee (c.1955 – 7 May 2009) is the 29th member of the New Zealand PoliceNew Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
killed in the line of duty. A long serving officer who was well known to the local community, Snee was a member of the Armed Offenders Squad and worked on drugs cases. As with Molenaar, he was of Ngāti Kahungunu
Ngati Kahungunu
Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke’s Bay and Tararua and Wairārapa regions....
extraction.
Aftermath
Molenaar continues to have supporters in Napier, particularly those impressed by his anti-gang stance; his tangi at Ruahapia maraeMarae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
and funeral were well attended. Snee's tangi was at Takapau marae and his funeral in Napier's Municipal Theatre.
Molenaar's partner Delwyn Ismalia Keefe, a convicted drug dealer, has received $10,000 of ACC
Accident Compensation Corporation
The Accident Compensation Corporation is a New Zealand Crown entity responsible for administering the Accident Compensation Act 2001. The Act provides support to citizens, residents, and temporary visitors who have suffered personal injuries....
compensation because Molenaar committed suicide. A restraining order has been issued against the house the two lived in and more than $90,000 in cash and bank accounts so the assets can be forfeited to the Crown once she is sentenced on the drug charges. She disputes accounts by others of the siege, saying Lenny Holmwood, who attempted to wrestle the gun from Molenaar, and is believed by police to have saved the lives of their two wounded officers, did not do so.
Holmwood has been recognized by the New Zealand Herald as its 2009 New Zealander of the Year for his heroism in saving Miller and Diver.
In 2011, Holmwood, two other civilians, 10 police officers and a paramedic received bravery medals for their actions during the shootings.
External links
- Press release about the death of Len Snee at the New Zealand Police