Auckland bus stabbing: Police release image of suspect
Police have released an image of a man in connection with the fatal stabbing of a woman on a bus in Auckland's Onehunga yesterday.
They also revealed a homicide investigation had been launched.
Emergency services were called to the route 74 bus on Church St at 2.30pm yesterday following reports of a stabbing.
Acting Detective Inspector Alisse Robertson today said the victim died at the scene and it was believed she and her attacker were not previously known to each other.
She said the two were sitting near each other on the bus for some time before the stabbing.
The man, Kael Leona, is described as being in his late 30s and was last seen in the Mt Wellington area. Robertson said he was known to police.
Detective Inspector Alisse Robertson said they are hunting for Kael Leona after the attack in Onehunga, Auckland. (Source: 1News)
"Our teams have been working through the night to find this person, who we believe is responsible for killing this woman."
He was last seen wearing dark-coloured pants, a black jumper with white writing on the front and white shoes. He also had a green t-shirt on his head and was carrying a black backpack.
Police were talking to his family who had "serious concerns" for his welfare and wanted him to come forward.
Anyone who sees Leona is being urged to call 111 immediately.
"He is not to be approached," Robertson said.
A postmortem and formal identification of the victim will take place over the coming days.
"Our thoughts are with her whānau at this time, and we are doing everything we can to support them," Robertson said.
She said there would be an increased police presence in the Onehunga and Mt Wellington areas today, and while further inquiries were carried out.
Robertson confirmed a police presence on Moana Ave in the area late last night was related to a vehicle of interest and would be part of the investigation. She said there were "some items of interest to us".
Robertson recommended passengers "keep your situational awareness up".
"If you feel unsafe or are seeing something suspicious that you don't feel good about, or it could be a crime, please call 111."