Two women were shot and killed and a man was wounded while conducting a property inspection in Northland, New Zealand, on July 26, authorities said.

Police said the Armed Offender Squad responded to a report of the shooting on Mt Tiger Road outside Whangarei at around 10:50 am and found the two dead women, whom they believed were related. The wounded man was taken to hospital, where he was in a stable condition.

Authorities believed a shooter was inside the rural property, but didn’t respond to attempts to negotiate.

“Police used tear gas at the address and the offender fired several shots at staff,” police said. “Police fired a number of shots in return. The house caught fire soon after this, and was fully engulfed. The status of the offender is currently unknown, however we believe it is very unlikely that he has survived. While Police and the fire service are at the property, they will not enter the house until it is safe to do so.”

Police said it appeard that the two women and the man had gone to the rental property to carry out a property inspection when the offender opened fire on them.

“Our community will be understandably shocked by today’s events but Northland is a tight-knit community and will stand together to support one another.” Credit: Northland Police via Storyful