An east Auckland man who carried out a mass shooting at a construction site died of self-inflicted injuries.
Matu Reid, 24, was serving a sentence of home detention in Flat Bush for domestic violence offending when he shot and killed two workers at the downtown Auckland building on July 20.
He also injured multiple people during his rampage, including a police officer who the Times understands suffered an injury to his jaw.
Reid entered the commercial building on lower Queen Street armed with a pump-action shotgun shortly after 7am on July 20.
Police responded to reports of an active shooter at about 7.22am as Reid moved through the building discharging his firearm. Numerous armed officers swarmed the area.
They encountered Reid in an elevator shaft in the building and exchanged gunfire with him.
He was later found dead. Police found two workers dead on the building’s lower floors.
They’ve since been named as South Auckland residents Solomona Tootoo, 45, and Tupuga Sipiliano, 44.
Reid had previously admitted charges of wilful damage, male assaults female, impeding breathing, and injuring with intent to injure.
The charges stemmed from a domestic violence incident in which he had kicked and strangled a woman.
A bone in her neck was broken during the attack.
The crime of strangulation carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.
Reid was sentenced at the Auckland High Court in March to five months’ home detention, which he was to carry out at a property in Flat Bush.
He was allowed as part of his sentence to work at the construction site where he carried out the shooting on July 20. Reid did not possess a firearms licence.
The Department of Corrections’ chief probation officer is carrying out a full review into Reid’s management.
In a recent update, police say they’ve completed a forensic examination of the downtown building site where the shooting took place.
“Preparation work will now get underway to ensure the site can be handed back to the construction company.
“Post-mortem examinations have been completed on all three people who died, including the offender.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, but police have provided additional information about how the tragedy ended.
“The post-mortem has identified injuries inflicted when shots were exchanged with police officers, however it has also confirmed his [Reid’s] fatal injury was self-inflicted.
“The police investigation will continue at the same time as the critical incident investigation, and a co-ordinated learning review.
“As standard procedure, the Independent Police Conduct Authority is also investigating.”
At the time of the update, four people injured during the incident remained in hospital.
Three workers were in a stable condition and were continuing to recover well.
“The police officer injured is also continuing to make progress in hospital, however will have a long road to recovery from injuries.”
Police want anyone with photos or videos which may be relevant to make contact.
An online portal has been set up to capture these photos and video: https://tuscan.nc3.govt.nz/.
People can also provide information by phoning police on 105 or make a report online at www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using file number 230720/6744.
