Downtown Auckland shooting: Worker tells of terrifying moment gunman threatened to shoot him

INA-  sources

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has praised the “heroic” actions of emergency services after three people, including the gunman, were killed in a shooting in Auckland’s CBD this morning.
A 24-year-old man, who was on home detention for domestic violence and wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet, stormed a building being renovated in lower Queen St near Britomart and opened fire.

“It is with deep sorrow that I can confirm two people have been killed,” Hipkins said.
Police have confirmed the shooter is also dead, and five people were injured, including a police officer who is critically injured, in this morning’s mass shooting.

Superintendent Sunny Patel said four members of the public have injuries ranging from moderate to critical.
“There may be more victims,” he said.
Hipkins, speaking this morning from the Beehive, said the offender was armed with a pump action shotgun and moved through the building site, discharging the weapon.
He then moved into an elevator shaft and was located deceased.
“Upon reaching the upper levels of the building the man contained himself in an elevator. Shots were fired and he was confirmed dead”.
He reassured that the public were now safe.
Police actions were “nothing short of heroic”, Hipkins said.
“I want to thank the brave men and women of the New Zealand police.
“Police who ran into fire from the gunman straight into harm’s way in order to save the lives of others.
“I also want to acknowledge ambulance first responders who were there quickly on the scene this morning.”
Hipkins didn’t know whether the police killed the offender.
His understanding is that there was no identified “political or ideological motivation” for the shooter and as such, there was no need to change the national security risk.
“There is no national security risk”, Hipkins said.
He said it was an ongoing police operation and couldn’t provide many other details.
Hipkins said today’s incidents appeared to be the actions of one individual and were not seeking anyone else.
Asked if the gunman was wearing an ankle bracelet, Hipkins couldn’t speak to those details.
Hipkins said it was his understanding that the two people dead are civilians.
The Government has spoken to women’s Fifa World Cup organisers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned.


source: nzherald