Gunman former rugby rep
A former South Canterbury rugby representative died of a gunshot wound after seriously injuring a police officer with a car in Canterbury.
Police will not say if Donald Melville Ineson, 56, was shot by police or killed himself.
Police rushed to a home in Darfield about 4pm on Sunday after reports a man was threatening his family, including children, with a loaded firearm, which he discharged ‘‘multiple times’’, Canterbury district commander Superintendent John Price said.
Two police officers first at the scene were heading up the driveway of the gunman’s property in Bangor Rd on foot when the man sped out, directly towards both officers, Price said.
One of the officers was struck by the car and thrown into the air before landing on the ground.
Police fired at the car after the attack, Price said. The man drove ‘‘some distance’’ down the road before he did a u-turn and drove back towards the officers.
The car stopped ‘‘of its own accord’’ and other police who had arrived at the scene approached the vehicle and found the man dead, Price said.
He died in the vehicle by what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
It is understood Ineson, a former South Canterbury rugby representative, was dealing with a string of traumatic events in his life. The armed offenders squad (AOS) had not yet arrived at the scene, however one of the two had AOS experience.
It was a ‘‘dynamic and extremely fast moving, critical incident,’’ Price said.
The police officer was seriously injured in the incident, suffering multiple leg fractures.
He was in a stable condition in Christchurch Hospital awaiting surgery yesterday. Price said he was an experienced officer.
❚ South Canterbury Rugby chief executive Craig Calder said Ineson’s death would be keenly felt by members of the union, which was ‘‘like a big family’’.
‘‘I’m aware of the tragic circumstances surrounding his death. It’s heartbreaking from a South Canterbury Rugby playing perspective,’’ Calder said.
Ineson was a ‘‘very good’’ lock who played more than 20 games for South Canterbury in the late 1980s. He also played for the Hanan Shield Districts against Argentina and Australia.
Ineson played for the Mackenzie Rugby Club where he was a ‘‘very popular, outgoing and well-known player’’.
Ineson worked at Simons Pass Station, between Twizel and Tekapo, from the late 1980s to the early 2000s.
Simons Pass Station manager Tony Wall said Ineson ‘‘worked from daylight to dark’’. Wall last saw Ineson at the funeral of Ineson’s father, Francis, in July.
‘‘He was just Donald, it was a pretty sad time for him, [Francis] was in his 90’s, it wasn’t unexpected but I thought Donald was handling it pretty good.
The man shot his weapon several times at the home, where his family, including children, were present. His body remained in the car at the scene yesterday afternoon. Price said it had been an ‘‘extremely traumatic event’’ for the man’s family and the officers involved.