Gunman ‘who killed two’ in shotgun rampage in New Zealand named and pictured
The gunman who allegedly killed two people and injured at least 10 more in a shooting rampage in Auckland metropolis centre, New Zealand, has been named and pictured.
Local police mentioned the person, named as Matu Tangi Matua Reid, had ‘a historical past of home violence’.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster additionally famous the gunman had indications of a historical past of psychological sickness.
Nevertheless, his historical past hadn’t led to suppose he may pose a “high level of risk” to the general public, Mr Coster mentioned.
He defined: “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.”
The police officer added earlier search had been carried out on the 24-year-old man’s property, however the drive “never found him in possession of a firearm”.
At the time of the taking pictures, the gunman was serving a five-month dwelling detention sentence for home violence fees which had been handed out by the Auckland District Court in late March.
However, the person who was reportedly sporting an ankle bracelet monitor, was allowed to journey from his residence to the constructing website the place he had beforehand labored.
Jolene Cartwright, the co-general supervisor of the Turn Your Life Around Youth Development Trust, an organisation serving to younger folks to reside a life free from crime, recalled the affiliation working with the gunman in 2017.
She instructed the NZ Herald: “We’re all actually very devastated at the moment. It was some years ago, sort of 2017, when the young man was last on our programme, but we’re all still kind of reeling from all of that.
“We really feel actually devastated concerning the scenario and everybody concerned. It’s fairly traumatic at this level. It’s a whole set of tragic circumstances throughout.”
The shooting began at a building site on busy Queen Street at approximately 7.20am on Thursday local time (7.20pm on Wednesday BST).
Armed with a pump-action shotgun, the man allegedly fired his weapon while moving through the building.
After reaching the upper levels, police said the gunman is said to have “contained himself inside the elevator shaft”.
Officers, who found two people already dead upon their arrival at the site, located the man inside the elevator shaft some 40 minutes after the rampage had begun.
Mr Coster said: “Shots had been exchanged, and the offender was later positioned deceased.”
The tragedy struck hours before the Women’s World Cup kicked off in the city.
New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins, who visited the shooting scene, said the event would proceed as planned and the “standalone incident” wouldn’t impression the extent of nationwide safety danger.