A tragic shooting at an Auckland construction site has left New Zealand reeling, just hours before the city hosted the opening match of the Women's World Cup. Two men were killed in the attack, and it has since come to light that they worked alongside the shooter. Police confirmed the shooter's death following an exchange of gunfire with officers.

The incident unfolded early Thursday morning as the gunman opened fire on workers inside the high-rise building. A police officer sustained a gunshot wound and remains hospitalized in stable condition. Three civilians are also receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, while two others have been discharged.

While formal identification is pending, reports suggest the shooter was 24-year-old Matu Reid, who was serving a home detention sentence but had permission to work at the construction site. Court documents reveal a 2021 domestic violence conviction against Reid for assaulting his then-girlfriend. The attack involved weapons including scissors and a wine bottle, along with punches, kicks, and strangulation, leaving the victim fearing for her life.

Following the assault, the victim escaped and contacted authorities from a nearby gas station. In March, a judge sentenced Reid to five months of home detention, expressing a belief that imprisonment would be detrimental to his rehabilitation.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reassured the public that the shooting was an isolated incident, and the FIFA Women's World Cup proceeded as planned. Over 40,000 spectators, including Hipkins himself, attended the opening match between New Zealand and Norway, marking a historic first World Cup victory for the host nation.

This incident has renewed focus on New Zealand's strict gun control laws, implemented in 2019 following the Christchurch mosque attacks. While the type of shotgun used in Thursday's shooting is not prohibited under current legislation, the gunman lacked the required license to possess any firearm.