Tag: Auckland shooting

‘We’ve dealt with this too many times’ – USWNT reacts to Auckland shooting

A gunman in downtown killed two and wounded several others before he was also found dead

For the U.S. women’s national team, Thursday’s deadly shooting in Auckland was sadly reminiscent of so many similar events back home.

A gunman in downtown Auckland killed two and wounded several others before he was also found dead in an incident on the morning of the first two Women’s World Cup games.

The shooting took place close to the USWNT team hotel in Auckland, where they will kick off the World Cup against Vietnam on Saturday afternoon local time.

At a press conference, USWNT forward Lynn Williams said that it was difficult to reckon with the shooting while also trying to focus on preparing for the team’s opener.

“Unfortunately, I feel like in the U.S. we’ve dealt with this far too many times,” Williams said.

“But there was definitely a sense of, ‘Let’s come together, we still have a job to do,’ but also recognizing that there were lives lost and that is very real and very devastating.

“We were just thankful that we were safe, that the first responders came in and everything was very quick. Our security was very swift to say, ‘Look, we can’t go anywhere right now. We need to make sure you guys are safe first.’ There was a sense around the team that we recognize that this is devastating. And then once we were able to go to training we were like, ‘We have to focus on the job at hand.'”

U.S. Soccer released a statement shortly after the incident, saying: “All of our players and staff are accounted for and safe. Our security team is in communication with local authorities and we are proceeding with our daily schedule.”

USWNT defender Crystal Dunn added that the team is looking to support one another in any way they can.

“This is very real and our condolences are with the families of the victims and the lives that were lost,” Dunn said.

“Everyone handles these situations differently. So it’s important to give people the space that they need to work through the trauma that has occurred today, but understanding that we’re a unified team.

“We give people the space that they need and hopefully we’re able to get on the pitch and just have a kick around and just try to be connected again in a tough day.”

[lawrence-related id=23473,20492,23498]

Three dead in Auckland shooting on day of Women’s World Cup opener

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said that the tournament would proceed as planned

Three people are dead, including the gunman, after a shooting in downtown Auckland on Thursday, the day the 2023 Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told the media that a man armed with a “pump-action shotgun” entered a construction site and opened fire, killing two and injuring several others before he was eventually confirmed dead himself.

“Upon reaching the upper levels of the building the man contained himself in an elevator,” Hipkins said. “Shots were fired and he was confirmed dead.”

“Police have contained a serious incident that unfolded at a construction site in Auckland’s CBD this morning,” New Zealand police tweeted. “Multiple injuries have been reported and at this stage we can confirm two people have died. The male offender is also deceased.”

Police said the incident unfolded at around 7:22 a.m., just hours before Auckland was set to host the first game of the World Cup at Eden Park between New Zealand and Norway.

Hipkins said that the tournament would proceed as planned.

“Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening, there are a lot of eyes on Auckland,” Hipkins said. “The government has spoken to FIFA organizers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned. I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat. This appears to be the action of one individual.”

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told New Zealand public radio RNZ that the shooting was a “dreadful thing to happen in our city at a time when the rest of the world’s watching us over the football.”

U.S. Soccer released a statement shortly after the incident, saying: “All of our players and staff are accounted for and safe. Our security team is in communication with local authorities and we are proceeding with our daily schedule.”

New Zealand Football also released a statement, saying: “New Zealand Football are shocked by the incident in Auckland CBD this morning. We can confirm that all of the Football Ferns team and staff are safe but we will not be able to comment further while details are still emerging.”

“Preparations for the game tonight at Eden Park will continue as planned,” it concluded.

[lawrence-related id=23071,23320,23138]