Identity of Auckland shooting gunman revealed after rampage at construction site that killed two: His troubling past revealed
- Identity of Auckland gunman revealed
- Matu Tangi Mantua Reid, 24, killed two civilians
- Shooter was shot dead by police inside a lift shaft
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.
Daily Mail Australia can confirm the shooter was already being monitored by correction and had a history of domestic violence and mental health issues.
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.’
Three people, including the gunman, have died while at least 10 were injured. An injured police 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, 24, was on home detention for domestic violence when he stormed the high-rise building in downtown Auckland on Thursday morning
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 (pictured, a map of the scene)
The gunman fired at police and injured a male officer. The officer is in hospital and is receiving urgent surgery (pictured, an officer is escorted to an ambulance by police)
KEY FACTS
- Two civilians have been shot dead after a gunman stormed a high-rise in down Auckland on Thursday
- The shooter, 24-year-old Matu Tangi Matua Reid, was shot dead by police in a lift shaft at about 8am
- At the time, Reid was on home arrest for domestic violence and was being tracked on an ankle monitor
- At least ten people are injured, including a police officer who is expected to undergo surgery
- NZ PM Chris Hipkins said the opening game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup would go ahead
- Mr Hipkins reiterated that the shooting was an isolated event and not an act of terrorism
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 spoken to the gunman on Wednesday night, just hours before the shooting.
‘He said he loved us and nothing really,’ she said.
‘His phone went dead this morning. He was talking to us last night. Everything was all good last night.’
Dozens of heavily armed officers swarmed the scene on Thursday morning (pictured)
Workmen were forced to take cover behind piles of building materials (pictured)
Timeline of Auckland shooting:
7:22am: First reports of gunman firing shots at CBD building undergoing construction work in Auckland.
7:41am: Police release statement saying they are responding to a ‘serious incident’. Armed officers at the scene, along with six ambulances.
7.47am: Reports emerge a cop has been injured.
7.53am: A number of construction workers escape the building and flee.
7.58am: Armed police enter the building, with a number of construction workers taking cover on the building’s roof.
8.08am: Construction shots are heard
8.26am: Police say the incident is contained to the one building.
8.46am: Ambulance treat six victims, three of whom have serious injuries
9.46am: Police confirm three people dead including the gunman.
Jolene Cartwright, the co-general manager of the TYLA Youth Development Trust, which worked with the gunman back in 2017 said they were devastated.
‘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.
The New Zealand Football Ferns will play Norway at Eden Park stadium at 7pm. The FIFA fan zone in The Cloud on Queens Wharf will remain closed.
‘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.’
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