Chaos Price’s father ‘forgave’ police in fatal shooting but blamed himself instead

Chaos Price’s father, Lee Price, who was shot dead by police in April last year.
photograph: NZME / Mike Scott

Chaos Price’s father, who was shot dead by police during a carjacking, says he “forgives” the police for his son’s death and blames himself instead.

22 year old chaos He died on Route 3 between New Plymouth and Waitara on April 16 last year..

Kaos, a father of three from Taranaki, crashed into a parked police car before attempting to steal it from a passerby.

Police then shot him dead. He was unarmed and no gun was recovered from the scene.

On Friday, Chaos’ father, Lee Price, 40, wore a black jersey with an image of his son tugging on his two middle fingers emblazoned on the back.

He wore it when he appeared in New Plymouth District Court.He also showed a tattooed memorial to Chaos on his face.

A month after his son’s death, the court heard that Price is still dealing with his death.

He was appearing in court for an assault that occurred a month before Chaos died.

The court heard that Price’s son punched a man on Cook Street in New Plymouth shortly before the assault.

Price was present and when the victim asked, “Are you going to let that happen?” Price ran over and punched the victim in the head repeatedly.

The victim did not retaliate and collapsed when he went to retrieve the bag that had fallen on the ground. While on all fours, Price kicked his torso once.

After the victim got up, he went to a nearby dairy farm to call the police. Price chased him down and called for a fight, but this did not materialize.

Police later went to Price’s address to arrest him, and while there, officers found about 2 kg of cannabis. Some of it was packed in a ziplock bag.

In court, defense attorney Paul Keegan said losing Chaos had a “horrible” effect on Price, and that he “felt somewhat responsible for the events leading to his son’s death.”

But he’s now working on putting an end to himself in that regard, Keegan said.

Price believed the assault was “one domino” to Chaos’ death.

“He’s completely blaming himself for his actions and for not doing the right thing with his son,” Keegan said.

“He explained that his son was shot only a month after the crime.

In his submission, Keegan relied on a “complete” pre-sentence report detailing Price’s remorse and insight into his crimes, his newfound sobriety, and motivation for change. rice field.

It also explored childhood events that Keegan said were causal to Price’s criminal behavior.

Monument to Chaos Price where he tried to escape police on Highway 3.
photograph: NZME / Mike Scott

Price wrote a letter of apology to the victim and told the author of the pre-sentence report that if he could go back and change what happened, he would.

After Chaos’ death, a major problem, Price’s alcohol consumption decreased “to the point of non-existence” and he gave up all “other” illegal drugs.

Keegan said his reported drinking status was significant.

As Keegan explained, Price’s criminal record was “a mixed type of chaotic support-level crime”, but now he’s making “better and more prudent” decisions to ensure a more positive future. We are working to bring down the

In an interview with the report writer, Price said his son’s death changed his life.

“It made me think about life and the path I was taking wasn’t the right one,” Price said in the report.

“Having the right mindset to do the right thing motivates me to be a better person.”

He went on to tell the reporter, “I forgave them.”

Keegan asked the court to order him to stay in the community with a sentence of home detention.

Prosecutor Rebekah Hicklin acknowledged Keegan’s submission of mitigating factors, but expressed concerns about drug and alcohol use and possible intimidation of victims, arguing that the sentence imposed would address those factors. I asked

Judge Gregory Hikaka was satisfied that Price’s reflections and insights were genuine, and said staying abstained from alcohol and drugs and working full-time demonstrated his commitment to a better life. rice field.

“It’s a shame it took tragedy to get there, but you understand that better than anyone.”

On charges of assault with intent to inflict injury and possession of marijuana for supply purposes, Judge Hikaka sentenced Price to 10 months of home detention and six months after custody.

A cannabis disposal order was issued, waiving Price’s $2,030 fine.

A police spokesperson confirmed that an investigation into Chaos’ death is ongoing.

Police were unable to provide an estimated completion date for the investigation or a time frame for the release of the findings.

Police had previously said he was following another convoy of vehicles the night Chaos died.

Chaos then drove at high speed toward police with his headlights off before crossing the center line and narrowly missing a parked police car, said then-assistant commissioner Sandra Venables.

“After continuing down the road, he made a second U-turn and drove towards the police, this time crashing into a police car at breakneck speed.

The force of the impact shook the police car off the road.

Chaos’ car was immobilized due to damage, and then attempted to rob a number of other drivers’ cars before being shot.

This story was originally NZ Herald.