The small Otago seaside township of Aramoana, near Dunedin, was the scene of the deadliest mass murder in New Zealand history when David Gray went on a shooting spree that left 13 people dead.
NZ History
New Zealand police kill man who massacred 11 - The Boston Globe Loner guns down 11- Stunned New Zealanders ponder bloody rampage that left 12 dead- Twenty-three hours of hell |
David Malcolm Gray made headlines in newspapers all over the world, showing how rare and significant the masscare was to New Zealand.
"One of the highest profile Armed Offenders Squad interventions is their action during the Aramoana massacre on 13-14 November,1990,which involved atleast 150 police officers. Officers from the Special Tactics Group were also present at the crisis. Sergeant Stewart Guthrie, an NCO in the AOS, was killed in the massacre, although he arrived alone with only a revolver, ahead of the fully equipped team from Dunedin¨. Sergeant Guthries death was caused by him being alone and not having a proper procedure put in place if an armed offender attacked. New procedures have now been put in place that officers do not arrive to the crisis alone, without backup or a partner. The Anti Terrorist Squad were not prepared for any type of massacre in 1990 and had trouble taking firearms on the flight to Dunedin, the massacre was an event they did not suspect to happen so they were not prepared. The Aramoana massacre was a significant tragedy,not only to residents of Aramoana, but everybody all around New Zealand. The massacre took New Zealand police by surprise as the police said on the 13th November 1990 that ¨they would wait until first light before making any further moves¨ ,showing that they were unsure about what to do and that is why an officer was killed and many were wounded. The Aramoana tragedy created the police to question if the gun laws in New Zealand are strict enough as David Malcolm Gray was unfit to own and buy firearms but he was able to do both, causing laws to become stricter around firearms. The police believe that David Grays "actions were not those of a rational person" and he should not of had any ownership over weaponry. The Aramoana Masscare caused the New Zealand police to created restrictions required for a "special license endorsement for military style semi automatic weapons" which David Gray used on his rampage. The firearms license became stricter in 1992 when new guidelines were put in place to ensure that people in New Zealand are safe from firearm harm. A new step 5 was put into the firearm license where it states that you will be interviewed after requesting a firearm license along with a check of your firearm security arrangements. Referees will be called and interviewed aswell. The new step 5 states that "You will have difficulty being deemed 'fit and proper' to possess or use firearms if you have: a history of violence,repeated involvement with drugs,been irresponsible with alcohol,a personal or social relationship with people deemed to be unsuitable to be given access to firearms and indicated an intent to use firearms for self defence". The gun laws put in place in 1992 would of meant that if David Malcolm Gray was alive, he would of been unstable and unfit to own any firearm as he was not mentally stable and had an intent to use guns and "blow" people away. The Aramoana massacre was a significant event as it changed the military style gun laws in New Zealand, which could of prevented many other mentally ill residents from shooting innocent people. Having stricter licences for these dangerous guns will save more people and stop unstable people from owning a license and weapons. The laws around firearm offenders became tighter aswell in 1998/1999 when the procedure was changed to esnure officers safety but shutting down offenders "effectively and safely" before the offender has the opportunity to harm anyone else. The Aramoana shooting has its own page in the book "Millemium Moments" showing how big the massacre was to New Zealand and even the world. The massacre was significant as it happened in a "small seaside" town and was not something New Zealand or Aramoana were expecting. New Zealand Police and the shooting squad were not prepared for such a crime and that resulted in an officer being killed and officers being wounded by the perpetrator. David Malcolm Gray shooting indiscriminately at residents caused him to kill children and an officer which raised alot more attention to the public and media as it is seen as more of an evil act and very significant to parents all throughout New Zealand. Aftermath The 24 hour shooting spree of David Malcolm Gray cost the lives of police sergent, several well known local figures,children and woman. The Aramoana community was significantly afftected by Grays kiling spree, they were full of rage and anger which caused David Grays house to be burnt to the ground. "Three days after the incident Gray's house at 27 Muri Street in Aramoana was deliberately set on fire and burnt to the ground". The Port Chalmers Fire Brigade attended and doused surrounding vegetation to prevent the fire spreading; "around fifty residents watched it burn. Gray's relatives asked any investigation of arson be stopped, when contacted by police." |
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/63230292/Flashback-The-Aramoana-massacre
Cassualities
Killed
Rewa Ariki Bryson, 11, friend of Jasmine
Simon Christopher "Chris" Cole, 62
Victor James "Vic" Crimp, 71
James Alexander "Jim" Dickson, 45
Sergeant Stewart Graeme "Stu" Guthrie, 41, Port Chalmers police officer
Garry John Holden, 38
Jasmine Amber Holden, 11, daughter of Garry Holden
Magnus "Tim" Jamieson, 69
Ross James Percy, 42
Vanessa Grace Percy, 26, wife of Ross Percy
Dion Raymond Jack Percy, 6, son of Ross and Vanessa Percy
Aleki Tali, 41
Leo Wilson, 6
Rewa Ariki Bryson, 11, friend of Jasmine
Simon Christopher "Chris" Cole, 62
Victor James "Vic" Crimp, 71
James Alexander "Jim" Dickson, 45
Sergeant Stewart Graeme "Stu" Guthrie, 41, Port Chalmers police officer
Garry John Holden, 38
Jasmine Amber Holden, 11, daughter of Garry Holden
Magnus "Tim" Jamieson, 69
Ross James Percy, 42
Vanessa Grace Percy, 26, wife of Ross Percy
Dion Raymond Jack Percy, 6, son of Ross and Vanessa Percy
Aleki Tali, 41
Leo Wilson, 6
Victims from the massacre.
¨Fifteen years later, Chiquita remembered how the bullet tore through her left arm and into her chest, embedding itself in her abdomen.
"I think it was the force of the shot that sent me out the door. From there I just got up and ran.
"I wasn't scared at all. I think I just went into survival mode."
She ran past her father, lying face down, surrounded by blood. She knew he was dead and ran to a neighbour's.
"I said, 'David's gone crazy. He shot me and he shot Dad'."
They dialled 111 and got in a van past the burning house.
"David was standing on a grass bank, metres away, shooting at us."
"I think it was the force of the shot that sent me out the door. From there I just got up and ran.
"I wasn't scared at all. I think I just went into survival mode."
She ran past her father, lying face down, surrounded by blood. She knew he was dead and ran to a neighbour's.
"I said, 'David's gone crazy. He shot me and he shot Dad'."
They dialled 111 and got in a van past the burning house.
"David was standing on a grass bank, metres away, shooting at us."