1.
GV Gun shop surrounded by police marksman
0.08

2.
GV Gunshop front
0.16

3.
GV & SV Marksman firing at shop front (2 shots)
0.26

4.
SV Gunman smashes shop window
0.34

5.
SV Marksmen by car
0.40

6.
GV Police cars in street as police fire tear gas grenades into shop front
0.43

7.
GV Gunman passes shotguns through door and climbs out, and walks down street with guns (2 shots)
1.33

8.
GV & SV Gunman down street and turns across road, pointing gun at police; gunman falls to police shot (3 shots)
2.03


"The drama started shortly after 10.30 this morning when a man wearing a tan jumper and dark slacks walked into the Hambly-Clark gunshop at the eastern end of Rundle Street. He seized a shotgun from one of the racks, loaded the weapon with ammunition from his pocket, and then threatened the shop manager, 32-year-old Peter Norton of Camden Park. The gunman then fired shots in the direction of a showcase and one of the shop attendants phoned the police. Finally, it was the gunman who made the first move towards ending the siege. He passed his shotgun through the jagged frame of the front door and carefully climbed out. The gunman, still waving the two shotguns menacingly, ambled down Rundle Street while police marksmen moved in for the final drama."




Initials CL/2347 CL/2358


TELERECORDING
CHRIS GUNN.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Police barricaded a gun store in Adelaide, South Australia on Monday (10 May), finally shooting dead a man who had held the owner and staff hostage. The man died in hospital from gunshot wounds in the stomach.

The drama began when a men walked into the shop, on Adelaide's main shopping avenue, Rundle Street. He selected a shotgun. The staff became suspicious and called the police. At that point the man ordered the staff into a backroom after firing at a showcase.

Meanwhile, police squads with Armalite rifles and tear gas grenade launchers, barricaded the area, placing marksmen at strategic points on nearby buildings. The staff and some customers escaped through the back door as police fired tear gas grenades into the store front, warning the man to give himself up.

In scenes reminiscent of a television crime series, the man smashed the store front window, placed two shotguns on the pavement and climbed outside. He then ignored further warnings by the police and picked up the two shotguns. As he walked down towards people watching from behind barricades, he waved the guns in the air.

Suddenly, as the gunman faced across the street, a police marksman opened fire and the man collapsed with a stomach wound. He died later in hospital. The police found that both shotguns were loaded and cocked to fire. However, they were unable to identify the man or explain any reason for his behaviour.

This film is serviced with a commentary in English by Channel 10, Adelaide reporter Chris Gunn. A transcript appears overleaf.