Flatmate of Darwin mass shooting victim reveals horror of seeing him killed as new details emerge
A man has revealed his horror after his flatmate was shot dead in front of him during the Darwin mass shooting on Tuesday that left four people dead.
Rob Courtney, 52, is the second victim to be identified, with his roommate Johnny Reid witnessing his death before locking eyes with his killer.
Police say it took just over half an hour for alleged gunman Ben Hoffmann to carry out the shooting across Darwin’s CBD which also left a woman injured.
While it was around an hour from the first shots fired to Hoffmann’s arrest, his alleged killing spree lasted no longer than 34 minutes as he allegedly moved from location to location.
The deadly violence started at 5.39pm at the Palms Motel near Finnis and McMinn Streets where Hoffmann allegedly shot and killed taxi driver Hassan Baydoun who was on a meal break.
Mr Baydoun's cousin Abdallah Salman said his 33-year-old relative did not know the shooter and was accidentally caught up in a random shooting as the gunman went from room to room firing his gun and shouting for Alex.
Police have contacted Alex, who was interstate.
"He was a lovely person, he had a good heart. He was a very easy going person who was always smiling, a very happy person who didn't have any enemies and his friends loved him," Mr Salman said of Mr Baydoun.
Man watches flatmate’s killing
A 22-year-old woman at the Palm was also shot in the legs and is in hospital in a stable condition.
At 5.50pm, the alleged offender, 45, attended a residence in Gardens Hill Crescent and fatally shot a 75-year-old male.
Just nine minutes later, the alleged offender attended the Buff Club in Stuart Park, where he fatally shot a 57-year-old male.
Hoffman then allegedly went on to kill 52-year-old casino security guard Rob Courtney at a home in Jolly Street.
His alleged final fatal shooting happened between 6.05pm and 6.13pm.
His flatmate, Darwin Recycling worker Mr Reid, told the NT News he witnessed the shooting before the gunman locked eyes on him.
“I found myself flinching at every sound … I’m still really shaken up,” he said.
“I still can’t believe this happened. I can’t forget the look that fella had on his face when he looked at me.
“I found myself looking up at the planes in the sky today and thinking, ‘man I wish I could be on one of those’. I just want to escape this.”
Police say he then allegedly tried to enter a police station in Berrimah at 6.24pm but was unsuccessful. CCTV footage shows Hoffmann allegedly trying to kick a door in at the premises.
After contacting the Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre, requesting police protection, he was apprehended by General Duties Officers and Territory Response Group Officers at the intersection of McMinn and Daly Streets at 6.44pm.
Hoffmann was tasered and arrested, and taken to hospital and was under police guard as of Wednesday night, yet to be charged.
While Hoffmann is alleged to have first opened fire at 5.39pm, he was allegedly spotted near Humpty Doo, about 40km from Darwin, where police say they believe he was “looking for an individual down that way".
Police said they were unsure whether any of the victims knew Hoffman.
Officers said they have examined the serial number of a prohibited pump-action 12-gauge shotgun used in the shootings and it may have been stolen.
NT Police have sought forensics and ballistics help from their counterparts in NSW.
With AAP
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