Wheelchair-bound Christchurch gunman Shayne Sime didn't believe in suicide but wanted to be killed by police, a friend says.
Sime, 42, was shot dead after a two hour standoff with police on June 28 which left an officer and a neighbour injured in the Christchurch suburb of Burnside.
His neighbour, named only as Richard, told The Press he had been at Sime's Wadhurst Place home drinking on the night the shooting spree began.
Richard, who had known Sime for about 18 months, said Sime seemed depressed and the spinal condition which confined him to a wheelchair appeared to be getting worse.
Sime's hands were starting to shake and he seemed "just really tired".
Later on, Sime talked about his "toys" -- his guns.
"We were joking about shooting down the street. Then he actually did it," Richard said.
Sime's mood improved after firing a shot and Richard left about an hour later.
He said he wasn't worried Sime would shoot anyone, and was surprised to later hear he had shot a neighbour and a policeman.
"I don't think he was trying to kill anybody."
Richard said Sime didn't believe in suicide, but wanted police to shoot him.
"He was a good guy. He didn't deserve the way he went out."
