'He didn't say a word' - Ashburton shooting

Saturday, 6 September 2014

David Cooze was the last person to see Peg Noble alive.

He remembers the masked man raising his shotgun, the blast of the firearm and gunpowder filling the air.

''It was like someone had just given me a good slap in the face,'' Cooze told The Press.

''Later, I was picking these big chunky bits of gunpowder off my face. I felt like someone had turned the lights down because the smoke was just sitting there.''

Cooze, a 47-year-old butcher at the local meatworks, is on a sickness benefit because of a sprained shoulder. On Monday morning, he called in to the Ashburton Work and Income offices with a medical certificate.

Noble, 67, who was on the reception desk, scolded him for not bringing his community services card and was looking up his details when the gunman walked into the foyer.

''I saw him out of the corner of my eye and the gun came up from his side and was basically aimed straight at her. When he pulled that trigger, the noise of it made this ring in my ears. He didn't say a word.''

'The explosion of the gun, the smoke coming out of the gun and it was like someone had just given me a good slap in the face. Later I was picking these big chunky bits of gunpowder off my face. I felt like someone had turned the lights down because the smoke was just sitting there. 

''It was all slow motion. I sort of blinked and then I saw him carry on and I knew I had to get the hell out of there.''

Cooze said a woman was ahead of him before he talked to Noble. The woman had moved to the side as he spoke to Noble and a security guard was also standing nearby when the gunman fired from about three metres away from the reception desk.

''It all slowed right down for me so I noticed the balaclava, the colour of his clothing, the gun and how many steps he took and then fired.

''The security guard was stunned. I made sure the lady was out before me and I grabbled the security guard by the shoulder and said something like, 'We can't do nothing mate' and pulled him out.

''Then the second shot was fired.

''Maybe I could have done something when he was reloading but it was not to be.''

Described by partner Angela Harris as gentle, caring man, Cooze is the first to admit he is no fighter but the thought of the gunman getting away incensed him. When he emerged from the building, Cooze, who had run into a shop to sound the alarm, screamed at him.

''I was using every foul word I knew. I was yelling at him and he pretended to reach for his gun. The butt was coming out the top of a backpack but he was in a panic and dropped his helmet and his chain before taking off. I was bummed out he got away. I was wild, mad.

''I thought, 'I'm going to try and catch you mate, there's no way you're getting away'. I yelled, 'You come on a pushbike you useless bastard, how can you do that? Let's do it man to man. Let's have it out'.

''I thought about getting in the car and running him over and then I thought, 'I've done enough running.' I ran out of energy.'

Cooze believed the gun was long barrelled.

''If it was a sawn-off shotgun, I would be dead,'' he said.

''I feel sorry for families who have lost a wives, mothers, grandmothers. I feel so sad for all those [Work and Income] workers and I wish I could turn back time.''

He cried when he saw Noble's picture in the paper. Cooze said he had some nightmares and sleeplessness but now felt ''OK''. Police had been great and he had also had help from Victim Support.

Fellow Work and Income worker, Susan Leigh Cleveland, 55, was also killed in the attack. She will be remembered today at a service in Alexandra. Lindy Curtis, 43, was injured in the shooting and remains in hospital.

Ashburton man Russell John Tully has been charged with murdering two women and attempting to kill a third.

Yesterday, a High Court judge lifted a suppression order banning publication of still images of Tully.

Police said they were looking for items belonging to the alleged gunman. They have found a firearm they believe was used in the shooting but said they were looking for other items, including a black mountainbike and possibly an additional firearm and ammunition. 

A spokeswoman said police were continuing to search the Ashburton River area and asked the public to keep away over the weekend.

Tully was believed to have been camping at sites along the river in the days leading up to Monday's incident and it was possible there were more items belonging to him in the area, she said.

A blue, red and yellow mountainbike had already been found, along with a number of other items of interest. Anyone who owned the bike or knew who it belonged to was asked to contact police.

Ashburton police can be contacted by phoning 03 307 8411, or information can be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.