Napier shootings

Jan Molenaar, 51, was of Ngāti Kahungunu descent{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2414581/Hundreds-farewell-gunman-Jan-Molenaar |title=Hundreds farewell gunman Jan Molenaar |date=15 May 2009 |work=Stuff.co.nz |accessdate=14 September 2011}} and grew up in Napier, where he went to Nelson Park Primary School, Napier Intermediate School and William Colenso College.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2399381/Napier-gunman-had-serious-issues |title=Napier Gunman Had 'Serious Issues' |date=10 May 2009 |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |accessdate=10 May 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514020227/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2399381/Napier-gunman-had-serious-issues |archivedate=14 May 2009 |url-status=live }} 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 after experimenting with methamphetamine.

File:NZLAV 2009.jpg

{{prose|section|date=May 2021}}

Senior constables Snee, Miller, and Diver went to Molenaar's home in Napier during a cannabis investigation. Molenaar fired shots at the policemen, killing Snee and wounding Miller and Diver. As Miller and Diver staggered away, neighbour Leonard Holmwood tried to wrestle the firearm from Molenaar before being shot in the leg and buttocks.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10571347 |title=Hero 'took bullet' to protect policemen |author=Eriksen, Alanah |date=9 May 2009 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=14 September 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206103445/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10571347 |archivedate=6 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10571008 |title=Police name officer shot dead |date=7 May 2009 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=14 September 2011}} Diver sheltered behind a neighbouring house where he was able to phone for back up. The Armed Offenders Squad responded quickly; with the aid of two members of the public they pulled Miller and Holmwood to safety.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2399773/The-heroes-of-Hospital-Hill |title=The heroes of Hospital Hill |author=Marty Sharpe, Clio Francis and Ruth Hill |work=The Dominion Post |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=11 May 2009 |accessdate=11 May 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514020238/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2399773/The-heroes-of-Hospital-Hill |archivedate=14 May 2009 |url-status=live }} Prime Minister John Key later commended these officers for their bravery.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2400674/Key-praises-police-over-Napier-siege |title=Key praises police over Napier siege |work=NZPA |date=11 May 2009 |accessdate=11 May 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514075117/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2400674/Key-praises-police-over-Napier-siege |archivedate=14 May 2009 |url-status=live }} 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.

• 9.30 am: 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 neighbour Leonard Holmwood are shot and wounded.{{cn|date=May 2022}}
• 9.40 am: Police cordon off the surrounding area and evacuate local residents.{{cn|date=May 2022}}
• 10.00 am: Miller and Diver are taken to hospital. Police fail to recover Snee's body after being shot at by the gunman.{{cn|date=May 2022}}
• 11.03 am: Police announced 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/5066.html|title=Shooting in Napier|accessdate=7 May 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090509200617/http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/5066.html| archivedate= 9 May 2009 | url-status= live}}
• 12.25 pm: More shots are fired, police talk to Molenaar through a loud hailer after which more shots are fired.{{cn|date=May 2022}}
• 7.15 pm: A police website media release announced "Police have been unable at this point to extricate Senior Constable Snee."{{cite web|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/5069.html|title=Accommodation offers for stranded Napier residents|accessdate=7 May 2009}}
• 8.05 pm: The Special Tactics Group arrives aboard a Unimog.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10571430&gallery_id=105568 |title=Graphic: The Napier siege |date=9 May 2009 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=14 September 2011}}

• 4.35 pm: Two of the army's light armoured vehicles, followed by a police car with officers and a police dog inside, enter the cordoned area.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10571130&pnum=0 |title=Napier siege: Latest updates |date=8 May 2009 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=14 September 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020131911/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10571130&pnum=0 |archivedate=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}
• 5.00 pm: The body of Leonard Snee is retrieved by Police.{{cite web|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/5074.html|title=Police officer's body recovered|accessdate=8 May 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090511101407/http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/5074.html| archivedate= 11 May 2009 | url-status= live}}

• 3:30 am: 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.{{cn|date=May 2022}}
• 12:00 pm: Police discover the body of shooter Jan Molenaar in the first floor master bedroom.

Leonard "Len" Snee (11 March 1956 – 7 May 2009) was the 29th member of the New Zealand Police killed in the line of duty. A long-serving officer who was well known to the local community,{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/News/Shot-policeman-was-Senior-Constable-Len-Snee/tabid/209/articleID/103112/cat/41/Default.aspx|title=Shot policeman was Senior Constable Len Snee|accessdate=7 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224195011/http://www.3news.co.nz/News/Shot-policeman-was-Senior-Constable-Len-Snee/tabid/209/articleID/103112/cat/41/Default.aspx|archive-date=24 February 2012|url-status=dead}} Snee was a member of the Armed Offenders Squad and worked on drugs cases. In 1996, he was involved in the manhunt for Constable Glenn McKibbin's murderer, Terence Thompson, in Flaxmere. As with Molenaar, he was of Ngāti Kahungunu descent.

An inquest determined the cause of Molenaar's death was a single self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

Molenaar had admirers in Napier, partly because of his anti-gang stance.{{cite web|title=Behind the Napier siege |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2520753/Behind-the-Napier-siege |work=Stuff.co.nz |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623074047/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2520753/Behind-the-Napier-siege |archivedate=23 June 2009 |url-status=live |accessdate=21 June 2009 }} His tangi at Ruahapia marae and funeral were well attended.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2415489/Hundreds-farewell-gunman-Jan-Molenaar |title=Hundreds farewell gunman Jan Molenaar |date=15 May 2009 |work=The Press |accessdate=14 September 2011}} Snee's tangi was at Takapau marae{{cite web|title=Slain officer's body taken to family marae |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/slain-officer-s-body-taken-family-marae-2724050 |work=Television New Zealand |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513183533/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/slain-officer-s-body-taken-family-marae-2724050 |archivedate=13 May 2009 |url-status=live |accessdate=21 June 2009 }} and his funeral in Napier's Municipal Theatre.{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/big-turnout-expected-policeman-s-funeral-2732202 |title=Big turnout expected for policeman's funeral |date=13 May 2009 |work=Television New Zealand |accessdate=14 September 2011}}

Molenaar's partner Delwyn Ismalia Keefe, a convicted drug dealer,{{cite web |url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Court-hears-arguments-over-Molenaars-estate/tabid/209/articleID/130470/cat/772/Default.aspx |title=Court hears arguments over Molenaar's estate |date=20 November 2009 |work=3 News |accessdate=14 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406084629/http://www.3news.co.nz/Court-hears-arguments-over-Molenaars-estate/tabid/209/articleID/130470/cat/772/Default.aspx |archive-date=6 April 2012 |url-status=dead }} received $10,000 of Accident Compensation Corporation compensation for Molenaar's suicide.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610660 |title=Siege killer's partner gets ACC payout |author=Savage, Jared |date=21 November 2009 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=14 September 2011}} A restraining order was issued against Keefe over the house the two lived in, and more than $90,000 in cash and bank accounts, so the assets could be forfeited to the Crown on her sentencing on the drug charges.{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/09/24/1245c8654411 |title=Order blocks sale of Molenaar assets |date=24 September 2009 |work=Radio New Zealand |accessdate=14 September 2011}} In May 2011 the court ordered the forfeiture of the house and nearly $20,000.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/76326/napier-gunman%27s-house-to-be-seized-by-crown|title=Napier gunman's house to be seized by Crown|date=27 May 2011|work=Radio New Zealand |accessdate=7 May 2022}}

The New Zealand Herald named Holmwood as its 2009 New Zealander of the Year for his heroism in saving Miller and Diver.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10613580 |title=2009 New Zealander of the Year: Lenny Holmwood |author=Gower, Patrick |date=5 December 2009 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=14 September 2011}}

In the 2011 New Zealand bravery awards, Holmwood, two other civilians, 10 police officers and a paramedic received bravery medals for their actions during the shootings.{{cite news |url= http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/2011-special-honours-list-4096557 |title=2011 Special Honours list in full |work=ONE News |date=2 April 2011 |accessdate=2 April 2011}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/5087.html Press release about the death of Len Snee] at New Zealand Police
• {{IMDb title|qid=Q129207321|id=tt2228902|title=Siege}} (2012 TV movie about the Napier shootings)

{{coord|-39.4908|176.9028|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2000s murders in New Zealand

Category:2009 crimes in New Zealand

Category:2009 murders in Oceania

Category:May 2009 crimes in Oceania

Category:May 2009 in New Zealand

Category:Murder–suicides in New Zealand

Category:Napier, New Zealand

Category:2009 suicides

Category:Shootouts

Category:2000s sieges