Mother wants to bring her son’s body home

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Mena Sipiliano of Vaimoso is still trying to come to terms with the sudden death of her son, Tupuaga Sipiliano, a victim of a shooting in New Zealand last Thursday. 

She told Radio Polynesia that her 44-year-old son had been a resident of New Zealand for over 20 years. Mrs Sipiliano said her son Sipilano was the eldest of her children and always served his family. 

Tupuaga is one of two Samoans killed in the shooting, where the shooter was also confirmed dead. The other is Solomona Tootoo, 45. 

Mrs Sipiliano told Radio Polynesia she wanted to bring her son’s body home. 

New Zealand Police said the gunman in Thursday’s fatal mass shooting died of a self-inflicted injury.

According to Radio New Zeland, Police had completed their forensic examination of the central Auckland building where gunman Matu Reid killed two people and wounded several others on Thursday.

Post-mortem examinations have been completed on Reid and the two victims. “The post-mortem has identified injuries inflicted when shots were exchanged with police officers. However, it has also confirmed his fatal injury was self-inflicted,” Detective Superintendent Ross McKay said.

The police investigation will continue simultaneously as the critical incident investigation and a coordinated learning review.

As standard procedure, the Independent Police Conduct Authority was also investigating.