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.
Six people are injured, including police officers. They have been taken to Auckland Hospital.
Hipkins 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.
“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 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, adding it was an ongoing police operation and he couldn’t provide many other details.
Today’s incidents appeared to be the actions of one individual and were not seeking anyone else, he said.
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 FIFA Women's World Cup organisers this morning and the football tournament New Zealand is co-hosting with Australia will proceed as planned.
It is understood the drama was centred at 1 Queen St, a Precinct Properties building which L.T. McGuinness is working on. Matt McGuinness confirmed to The New Zealand Herald it was his site.
Several roads were closed in the CBD, including sections of Lower Hobson St, Quay St, Queen St, and Lower Albert St.
Police statement
Police have contained a serious incident that unfolded at a construction site in Auckland’s CBD this morning.
Multiple injuries have been reported and at this stage we can confirm two people have died.
The male offender is also deceased.
This incident unfolded after reports of a person discharging a firearm inside the site on lower Queen Street at around 7.22am.
A significant number of Police responded and cordoned off the area.
The Police Eagle helicopter was also deployed and provided oversight.
The offender has moved through the building site and continued to discharge his firearm.
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.
Further shots were fired from the male and he was located deceased a short time later.
Details around what has exactly occurred are still emerging and Police will continue to provide updates around injuries and the circumstances.
What has unfolded is understandably alarming and we are reassuring the public that this incident has been contained and is an isolated incident.
We can also advise that this is not a national security risk.
Police are now commencing an investigation into what has occurred this morning.
Cordons remain in place and we are continuing to ask the public to stay away from the area as our work continues.
