A soldier who took his own life on an army base yesterday had revealed his depression in a 2am text to his partner.
Private Alex Rope, 23, had recently separated from the mother of his two children.
Yesterday he barricaded himself inside his home at the Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North in a five-hour standoff with police, flanked by light armoured vehicles.
Officers arrived at Pvt Rope's home before 10am after reports of a gun being fired inside the house.
Surrounding streets were cordoned off as negotiators tried to contact him.
Police used teargas in a failed attempt to force him out of the house, and officers found his body shortly after 2pm.
A woman close to his family said Pvt Rope had been drinking the night before and sent a 2am text to his partner saying he was depressed.
His partner found the message when she awoke.
Pvt Rope's family in Wanganui were last night grieving the death of the young soldier who was a loving dad, said family friend Annette Gray.
"He was really nice, really polite, and a loving father," she said.
"He just doted on his children.
"It's very terrible [for the family] at the moment."
Ms Gray said Pvt Rope and his partner often separated but always reconciled their relationship.
They were both teenagers when their daughter was born but were mature parents, Ms Gray said.
"They really loved each other but sometimes they just got on each other's nerves, like most young couples.
"They would split up and have time apart [but] they always got back together."
Ms Gray said Pvt Rope's partner planned to return to Wanganui with their five-year-old daughter and one-year-old son.
It is believed Pvt Rope was charged with drink driving on Thursday night, and Inspector David White said police were investigating Pvt Rope's movements in the hours before his death.
"We're interviewing those who have been in contact with him in the last few days to try to establish where he's been, what he's been doing, what he's been thinking," Insp White said.
A Defence Force spokesman said it was not known whether the gun involved was a military or privately-owned weapon.
Major Robert Loftus, chief of staff of 1st Brigade, said the army was supporting Pvt Rope's family.
"Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the soldier concerned at this difficult time.
"The NZ Army will be providing appropriate support to the family."
Pvt Rope was not deployed overseas during his service in the army, Maj Loftus said.
Coronial and military inquiries will investigate the death.
Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman declined to comment.
- By Kieran Campbell, Brendon Manning and Alecia Bailey
Private Alex Rope
- 23-years-old
- Went to Wanganui High School
- Had two children: a five-year-old daughter and one-year-old son
