Gun battler may face charges

MIKE WATSON/The Dominion Post

FIGHTING BACK: Zhuofeng 'Titan' Jiang wrestled the rifle off the offender and fired a shot into the floor and one into the man's leg.

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A Tokoroa takeaway owner who shot a masked gunman in the leg after wrestling a semi-automatic .22 rifle off him could end up being charged for defending himself.

Aotea Chinese Takeaways owner Zhuofeng "Titan" Jiang, 25, grabbed the rifle as the gunman pointed it at Mr Jiang's 19-year-old cousin and demanded money from the till about 9.45pm on Monday.

The gunman had already fired a warning shot into the floor. Another shot went off as the men wrestled with the rifle.

When Mr Jiang got hold of the rifle he fired two shots, one into the floor, and another into the man's leg, to stop him from being attacked.

The gunman screamed in pain after being shot and fled.

Mr Jiang said yesterday that he was not a hero. "I was not scared. I would do it again. I hate these people. I will never give them any money."

Police were last night hunting a fat man, 1.8 metres (6ft) tall, wearing dark-coloured clothing.

The Sterling 20 rifle, with attached scope, may have been stolen in a earlier burglary.

Detective Senior Sergeant Todd Pearce said part of the inquiry would look at whether Mr Jiang was liable under the Arms Act. Police did not encourage people to fight back when firearms were involved.

"The victim was threatened with a firearm and sought protection to retrieve the rifle.

"If it is found he did not use the appropriate level of force to defend himself it is possible charges could be laid."

In 2006 Greg Carvell shot a man in his Auckland gunshop after a man threatened to kill him with a machete. Police later dropped charges against Mr Carvell of unlawful possession of a gun.

Last month Otara liquor store owner Virender Singh had charges of using excessive force withdrawn after he hit a teenager with a hockey stick in an attempted robbery.

Mr Jiang is angry that police took 25 minutes to arrive at the scene after being telephoned.

"They said they would send someone immediately but they kept asking us questions ... too many questions."

Police Northern Communications manager Inspector Tony Edwards said phone records showed officers arrived outside the shop within 10 minutes of the call being made.

"A call was made to police by the victim at 21.45. The call ended at 21.47 and a CIB car arrived at the scene at 21.57."

Hospitals, surgeries and medical centres have been told to look out for a person seeking medical attention for a gunshot wound.

A neighbouring business owner said Mr Jiang's actions were "brilliant" but "bloody dangerous".

"Sometimes you have to think, it is worth it," the businesswoman said.

- © Fairfax NZ News