A police officer and a civilian shot when a paraplegic man went on a shooting rampage in Christchurch last night have been discharged from hospital.
The pair were caught in the crossfire when the 40-year-old gunman fired more than 100 rounds in a quiet cul-de-sac in suburban Burnside about 8pm.
A two-hour stand-off ended with police shooting dead the wheelchair-bound gunman.
The dead man was believed to have been drinking and had earlier contacted family saying he was suicidal. Canterbury district commander
Superintent Dave Cliff said many houses in Wadhurst Place had been peppered with shots and two men -- a neighbour and a member of the armed offenders squad -- received gunshot wounds.
They were treated at hospital and released this morning but the officer may have to return to have more shotgun pellets removed later today.
The fatal shot was fired as soon as the armed offenders squad member came under attack, Mr Cliff said. "
There was significant damage done. This was a situation that was extraordinarily dangerous," he told Radio New Zealand.
Terrified neighbours were told to stay inside and below window-level during the early part of the siege, before being safely evacuated to nearby Burnside High School. Police said the man appeared to have mainly been shooting straight down the street.
"He fired in excess of 100 rounds of both shotgun (pellets) and .308 (rifle cartridges) into houses in the cul-de-sac where he lived," said police North Canterbury area commander Inspector Dave Lawry.
A police negotiating team tried to reason with the gunman, without success, Mr Cliff said. "Unfortunately, the situation we dealt with unravelled.
These situations are always very difficult and in this case we just have to extend our sincere condolences to the family." The dead man's name has not yet been released.
The area remains cordoned off and police will undertake a full scene examination today. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has been notified.