The man wanted by police in connection to a triple stabbing on Auckland's North Shore this morning has been found.
A full-scale police manhunt was earlier underway for 45-year-old Brent Scott, of South African descent, following an incident on Mahoney Drive, Albany shortly before 9am this morning, where three people were stabbed.
Superintendent Bill Searle says the man was apprehended following a wide-scale police response involving officers across the North Shore.
"I think the police response has been outstanding today and I'm very proud of my police staff who have done an excellent job."
Newstalk ZB Reporter Michael Sergel says a police blockade remains in place in Bass Road in Albany but local schools have now re-opened.
"The children weren't told what happened. So they don't know if it's a drill or something that really happened at this stage. But they went through a a lockdown process in their classrooms."
Emergency services, including five ambulances, were called to the property shortly before 9am.
One woman died at the scene and two others were seriously injured and transported to hospital.
Late this morning, the body of a woman was still lying on the grass verge next to the footpath on Vinewood Drive.
The bloodied body had been partially covered by a sheet opposite the home where the stabbing took place.
One victim was in surgery Newstalk ZB reported just before 12pm, the other will be in surgery shortly.
Scott had been due in North Shore District Court this afternoon for a case review on unknown charges.
A rescue helicopter landed about 9.15am this morning at Albany Primary School, before departing for Auckland Hospital shortly after.
STUDENTS OKAY
Albany Primary School principal Maree Bathurst said the students at the school were okay.
"We ensured everybody was inside and nobody moved until we had spoken with police. Nobody entered the school grounds and nobody left.
"The children, at this point in time, have no idea what's happened," she told The New Zealand Herald.
AGENT FOR KNIFE SHARPENING COMPANY
Stuff.co.nz have reported Scott is the New Zealand agent for a popular South African knife sharpening company.
Brent Scott is listed by the Warthog Blade Sharpeners group as their sole New Zealand agent.
Scott created a New Zealand company, Warthog Blade Sharpeners NZ Ltd, in 2011.
He is listed with the Companies Office as the sole director and shareholder, resident at 2 Mahoney Drive, Albany.
NEIGHBOUR REPORTS HEARING SCREAMING
A resident on Mahoney Drive said a neighbour had reported hearing screaming around 9am today.
"The next-door neighbour told us that there was screaming and stuff. But it didn't last too long, so they didn't think it was anything bad," they told The New Zealand Herald
The resident, who asked not to be named, said there was a large police presence on the street and they had been told to stay inside.
"It's usually quite quiet. It's pretty peaceful...this is the first time I've heard of any violence here. It's a bit shocking."
MAN STABBED HIS PARTNER
There were reports from people connected to Rangitoto College that a man had stabbed his partner and had come to the school looking for his child.
A staff member at Rangitoto College told ONE News they understood "a student's dad has stabbed the mum and is now on the way here".
One mother who contacted NZME News Service, who operate The New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB, said her 15-year-old daughter had been locked inside her Rangitoto College classroom since earlier this morning.
The woman's daughter had been texting her from the classroom, and the pupils believed the man police were looking for was trying to reach the school.
"She said that whoever did it is looking for their child at Rangi," the mother said.
The students had been carrying out their own "investigations" into the incident, looking it up on the internet and following news websites for updates.
Many had been texting their parents telling them they were okay and filling them in on what has happened, she said.
Some of the pupils had been scared, she said, but being able to stay in touch with their parents had helped them.
A number of day care centres and other schools were also believed to have been warned about the incident, the mother said.
RESIDENT: 'IT'S TOO CLOSE TO HOME'
A resident from a property beyond the police cordon said it was scary waiting and not knowing what was happening.
Kate Sherson had been stuck outside the cordon on Bass Road since 9am, while her 16-year-old daughter was alone at home.
"It's a bit scary. It's too close to home," she told The New Zealand Herald.
"One if my kids is at home too, which is scary. I have been on the phone to her. I've just told her to sit right and keep everything locked. I haven't told her they're looking for anyone."
She'd seen police dogs come and go and had been watching the search helicopters circling above.
"They haven't really told us anything. We're just waiting. There's nothing else you can do but wait.
"It's just frustrating that they haven't got him yet. He could've gone in any direction. And we've got kids at home and can't get to them."
Shown a picture of the suspect, Sherson and other neighbours locked out by the cordon said they had never seen the man.
NEWSTALK ZB LISTENER: BODY LAYING ON GROUND, WIFE IN CORDON
A Newstalk ZB listener told talkback host Leighton Smith his wife was caught inside the police cordon.
"She’s seen a body laying on the ground that's covered, obviously deceased, and a couple of others. There's blood all over the footpath."
EARLIER EVENTS
An eyewitness said she saw seven police cars and three ambulances on Bass Road.
The witness was dropping her child off at the kindergarten – which was also in lockdown – next to Albany Primary School at 9am when she saw police cars "screaming past".
Just after 9am, Albany Primary School posted on a statement on its website, reporting that there is no danger to students or staff and “no need to panic”.
Ambulance duty manager Ian Rex told Newstalk ZB they had three patients.
"The incident progressed up Bass Road and as a result we’ve had three patients out of this incident and one that unfortunately has been fatally injured on scene, and two that are critical."
One nearby business owner said police were everywhere.
"Someone I know had seen three people lying on the ground, one an older lady with lots of blood around her, and then two other younger people.
"They didn't have as much blood but none of them were moving."
She was told at the time, there was still a man on the loose with a knife.
Source: ONE News, Stuff.co.nz, The New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB
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