WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (AP) – Two men gunned down at a New Zealand construction site had worked alongside the shooter, police said yesterday, and court records showed the man had been convicted of domestic violence for attacking a girlfriend.
New Zealanders were still in shock at Thursday’s rare shooting, which closed part of downtown Auckland hours before the opening game of the Women’s World Cup soccer tournament, held under increased security.
Police didn’t say if there was an immediate trigger for the man’s rampage, although some media reported he had recently been fired from his job at the site.
The gunman stormed the high-rise building in the early morning, opening fire on terrified workers. He was found dead after a police shootout. An officer who was shot and wounded remained hospitalised in stable condition.
Three civilians also remained hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries, while two more had been released from hospital, authorities said.
Police told The Associated Press they had yet to formally identify the gunman but did not dispute reports it was Matu Reid, 24, who was serving a home detention sentence but had an exemption to work at the building site.
Court records obtained by news organisation Stuff show Reid was found guilty of domestic violence after beating his then-girlfriend in 2021.
The records indicate he used weapons including scissors and a bottle, punched her, kicked her in the stomach and squeezed her throat for about 10 seconds, causing her to fear for her life. The woman escaped from Reid and called police from a gas station.
A judge in March sentenced Reid to five months in home detention.
“I do not want to send a young man like you, with a limited history, to prison,” the judge said in his sentencing notes. “I think it would be counter-productive and actually set you down the wrong path.”
