The identity of the gunman responsible for a horrifying shooting rampage that killed two and injured six at an Auckland building has been revealed.
Matu Tangi Matua Reid, aged 24, shot at several civilians and at least one police officer before he died in a lift shaft early on Thursday morning.
Police say the gunman made his way through the building before firing a number of shots at around 7:20am. Police were at the site within minutes, and found two members of the public dead on arrival.
‘At around 8am our armed offenders squad supported by the special tactics group located the offender inside a lift shaft where he had barricaded himself and attempted to engage him, having secured the floors above and below,’ Police Commissioner Andrew Koster said.
‘The offender fired at police and injured an officer. Shots were exchanged and the offender was later found deceased.’
The injured officer is expected to undergo surgery on Thursday.
At the time of the shooting, Reid had been serving a five-month home detention sentence for domestic violence charges and was tracked via an ankle monitor.
Matu Tangi Matua Reid – on home detention for domestic violence – when he committed the shooting
He had been granted official approval to travel from the South Auckland property where he was serving home detention to the building site, where he worked.
Reid was sentenced in March on charges of injuring with intent to injure, willful damage, male assaults female and impeding breathing.
Police confirmed the man did not have a gun licence.
‘The individual is known for primarily family violence history. There is nothing to suggest that he has a higher level of risk than was indicated by that history,’ Commissioner Koster said.
He said the motivation for the attack was unclear but there were some indications of mental health history, of which police don’t yet have the details.
‘There has been previous search of his property, but never found him in possession of a firearm,’ the commissioner said.
A woman at a property linked to the man told Stuff.co.nz she had spoke to the gunman on Wednesday night, just hours before the shooting.
Three people are dead – including the gunman – after an armed man stormed a construction site in the Auckland CBD ahead of the Women’s World Cup opening match (pictured, an injured police officer is escorted to a nearby ambulance by his colleagues)
The 24-year-old shooter was wearing an ankle monitor when he entered a building on lower Queen Street at about 7.20am NZST on Thursday
About 100 tradesmen were told by police to take cover on the building’s roof
‘He said he loved us and nothing really.’
‘His phone went dead this morning. He was talking to us last night. Everything was all good last night,’ the woman said.
Jolene Cartwright, the co-general manager of the TYLA Youth Development Trust, which worked with the gunman back in 2017 said they were devastated by the situation.
‘We just found out and are still dealing with the situation. Our thoughts go out to everyone involved in the tragic situation that’s unfolded,’ Cartwright said.
New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins said the gunman was armed with a pump action shotgun and ‘there was no political or ideological motive for the shooting’.
‘I want to thank the brave men and women of the New Zealand police, who ran into the gunfire, straight into harm’s way, in order to save the lives of others,’ he said.
‘These kind of situations move fast and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic.’
The prime minister confirmed the FIFA Women’s World Cup would go ahead as planned and reiterated the shooting was not an act of terrorism.
‘Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland. The government’s spoken to FIFA organisers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned,’ he said.
‘I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat. This appears to be the actions of one individual.
‘My understanding from the advice we’ve received so far is that there was no identified political or ideological motivation for the shooting and therefore no national security risk.’
Building worker Sione Fulei said the gunman may have been inside the high-rise for up to an hour before the shooting spree began.
He said the building had security and systems that required a pass to get in.
Relieving Auckland District Commander Sunny Patel said the gunman had continued to shoot as he moved through the high-rise.
‘Upon reaching the upper levels of the building, the male has contained himself within the elevator shaft and our staff have attempted to engage with him,’ he said.
‘Further shots were fired from the male and he was located deceased a short time later.’
