How the killer got his guns
Gunman borrowed name and firearms licence, files show
Fresh details of how a Northland property manager and her daughter were fatally shot by gunman Quinn Patterson have emerged nearly a year after the tragedy in Whanga¯rei.
The details are in a police summary of facts related to Whanga¯rei salesman Michael John Hayes, who has pleaded guilty to supplying various firearms to Patterson — including the suspected murder weapon — between March and May last year.
Patterson also bought 10 firearms via Trade Me using Hayes’ name and firearms licence, the papers show.
Hayes, 61, admitted in the Whanga¯rei District Court on May 4 three charges of unlawful possession of a military-style semi-automatic weapon and three of supplying a military-style automatic weapon to a person who did not hold a permit. Patterson did not have a licence. The maximum penalty for the charges is three years in jail or a $4000 fine. Hayes will be sentenced tomorrow.
Patterson shot dead Wendy Campbell and her daughter Natanya Campbell during a property inspection on July 26 last year.
They were with contractor Jeffrey Pipe, who intended to install smoke alarms in the Mt Tiger Rd house Patterson rented.
Patterson spoke with the visitors at the front door and then fired shots at Natanya Campbell from close range. He also fired at Pipe, who suffered injuries to his shoulder and back but was able to get into his vehicle and escape.
Wendy Campbell went to help her daughter but Patterson then shot her at close range several times. Both women died at the scene.
Analysis of cartridges showed the gun was a .22 calibre weapon, with a similar firing pin to that of a Gevarm .22 calibre rifle.
After four hours of negotiating with Patterson, police fired tear gas into the house and Patterson fired a rapid series of rounds from a large semi-automatic weapon. A fire erupted that destroyed the house and Patterson was found inside dead.
Police recovered 11 firearms from Patterson’s house and a further four from a property Hayes lived in.
It can now be revealed that Patterson bought 10 firearms on his Trade Me account using Hayes’ name and firearms licence between September 9, 2016 and July 18, 2017.
They included four shotguns, four .22 calibre rifles and two 7.62 calibre AK-47 type weapons.
Hayes met the gunman around 2013 or 2014 when Patterson responded to his letter drop looking for properties to trap possums at.
In 2016, Hayes provided a letter of support for Patterson to apply for a firearms licence.
However police rejected the application in September 2016 on the grounds Patterson was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
Between March 1 and May 1 last year, Hayes visited Patterson taking military-style semi-automatic fire- arms and ammunition with him including two Gevarm .22 calibre rifles and one Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun.
Hayes held a firearms licence for three years until August 8, 2017 when a revocation notice was served on him. However, he did not have an endorsement to possess any militarystyle semi-automatic firearms at the time he had the weapons and supplied them to Patterson.
Hayes, his son, his sister’s partner and Patterson shot targets at Patterson’s property.
During three police interviews in July and August last year, Hayes admitted supplying the firearms to Patterson and to others and said he knew none of them had a licence. He initially claimed he left the weapons at Patterson’s house as he had insufficient storage at his property.
He also said Patterson had bought the firearms for him to be returned to the gunman when, and if, the Mt Tiger resident had obtained a licence.
Hayes said he felt guilty and responsible for what occurred.