'At that point I thought I was going to die': Terrified woman who first alerted cops to Darwin shooter reveals how she cowered in a shower cubicle for 40 minutes as gunman began his rampage
- Four men were killed after an alleged shooter went on a rampage in Darwin
- Jasmine Kielly was staying at the Palms Motel in Darwin when shots were fired
- She and her partner cowered in the shower for 40 minutes, fearing for their lives
- Ben Hoffmann, 45, allegedly murdered the men in cold blood with a shotgun
- He has been out on bail since January after serving four years jail for assault
The first person to call police about the Darwin massacre has told of the 40 terrifying minutes she and her boyfriend cowered in the shower, fearing they were about to die.
Northern Territory police will allege the gunman's rampage began at the Palms Motel about 5.40pm on Tuesday. The first sign of trouble for locals was a loud 'bang'.
Second floor resident Jasmine Kielly feared there had been a car crash and walked outside to investigate - only to lock eyes with a man wearing a hi-vis and allegedly wielding a shotgun.
Jasmine Kielly (pictured) was staying at the Palms Motel in Darwin with her boyfriend when a man allegedly began moving from room to room firing shots
Ms Kielly had been on the second floor when she heard what she thought was a car crash. As she walked outside to investigate she locked-eyes with a man wielding a gun
The chaos unfolded at the Palms Motel (pictured) in Finniss St, just before 6pm, on Tuesday as a man wearing hi-vis clothing allegedly began his rampage
Ms Kielly and her partner packed their belongings on Wednesday and found elsewhere to stay following the horrific shooting on Tuesday night
Police believe at about 5.45pm, the gunman shot and killed Blue Taxis driver Hassan Baydoun, 33, at the back of the Firness St motel. The cab driver was on his meal break at the time
'He turns around and faces me, puts his gun up to his shoulder, and that's when I panicked and ran,' Jasmine recalled. Police now allege that man was Ben Hoffman, 45, a recently paroled prisoner, who was looking for a man named 'Alex'.
Jasmine told Daily Mail Australia she fled back to her room, slammed the glass door shut and told her partner Brendan Ozanne what she had seen. The couple hid in their dripping shower and rang Triple Zero, demanding help.
'At that point I thought I was going to die,' Jasmine said. 'It was just BANG - BANG - BANG - I was terrified.
'You'd hear someone coming up the stairs and it was like, 'f***, he's coming''.'
Police had cordoned off areas of the motel on Wednesday. Shattered glass and bullet holes remain at the scene
As shots rang out on Tuesday night, many feared for their lives. Witnesses have described watching an alleged gunman walk from room to room firing shots
Ms Kielly and her partner Brendan Ozanne hid in their dripping shower while the chaos unfolded
They had no idea what was happening outside, or where the police were. 'It was like, 'where are the sirens?'' We were just waiting and waiting.'
But according to a police timeline released on Wednesday evening, the rampaging gunman was probably moving away from their home.
THREE DEAD IN FIFTEEN MINUTES: GUNMAN ALLEGEDLY SHOOTS HIS WAY THROUGH DARWIN
Police believe at about 5.45pm the gunman shot and killed Blue Taxis driver Hassan Baydoun, 33, at the back of the Firness St motel. The cab driver was on his meal break at the time. (The company's base of operations is next door to the motel.)
About this time, a woman, 22, also suffered injuries to her legs, but is expected to survive.
Ben Hoffmann (pictured), 45, allegedly killed four people during a shooting rampage on Tuesday evening and injured one other
The man, who was known to police and was released on parole earlier this year, was arrested (pictured) after a rampage that lasted about an hour and involved five locations
Hoffmann allegedly fatally shot four men at four different locations (pictured) and injured one woman
Five minutes later, at 5.50pm, police allege the gunman had driven about two minutes' up the road to Gardens Hill Crescent, where he shot dead a man, 75, at a townhouse.
Nine minutes later, just before 6pm, the shooter is alleged to have stormed the nearby Buff Club pub and killed a man, 57.
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He is then alleged to have driven north about 1.5km to Jolly Rd, Woolner, and shot a fourth man, 52, at an industrial site.
The victim's friend Johnny Reid, from Darwin Recycling, said the shooter fired four rounds into his mate after 6pm.
Investigators have been at the first crime scene where a shell casing could be seen on ground
Shots also rang out at multiple locations across Darwin during the 40 minute rampage on Tuesday night
According to a police timeline released on Wednesday evening, the man allegedly drove north about 1.5km to Jolly Rd, Woolner, and shot a fourth man, 52, at an industrial site
Police taped off the industrial site on Wednesday as investigators continue to piece toegether what happened
'He busted in and looked right at me … I thought I was dead for sure,' Mr Reid told the NT News.
'I asked him what he was doing but he went right past me and shot my mate.'
CALLS TO THE COPS AND TURNING UP AT POLICE HQ: THE GUNMAN'S BIZARRE END
Strangely, police allege the gunman then headed to one of the Northern Territory Police's headquarters, the Peter Mcaulay Centre, about 20 minutes drive north.
Investigators claim he allegedly tried to enter the concrete, fortress-like building, but failed. Detectives don't know why he was there.
The gunman allegedly drove to Gardens Hill Crescent, where he shot dead a man, 75, at a townhouse
Mourners have left flowers for the victims outside the property on Wednesday morning
A police officer looks mournful as he stands guard outside one of the crime scenes the day after the tragedy
'At this stage, it is unclear as to why he was trying to enter the police station,' investigators said in a statement.
Police claim the gunman then turned around and drove all the way back to Darwin's city centre.
At some point, he rang the police duty superintendent. 'He asked to be placed into protective custody, which we did,' recalled police commissioner Reece Kershaw.
The shooter is alleged to have stormed the nearby Buff Club pub (pictured) and killed a man, 57
The man is then alleged to have driven north about 1.5km to Jolly Rd, Woolner, and shot a fourth man, 52, at an industrial site. The Buff Club (pictured) was in lockdown after the shooting
The Northern Territory capital has been swarmed by police following a night of chaos when areas in and around the CBD were forced into lockdown in search of an alleged shooter on Tuesday night
A brigade of police troopers dressed in camouflage finally arrested the alleged gunman at 6.44pm, more than an hour after the chaos began.
The alleged gunman is being held at Royal Darwin Hospital and is expected to be charged overnight.
The gunman's relationship with the victims still under investigation. The identities of three victims are yet to be revealed, although at least one is believed to be a Greek Australian.
Police tape has been spotted at multiple locations throughout Darwin; on vehicles (pictured), fences and homes
The shooter never found 'Alex'.
Police have confirmed the mystery figure was interstate at the time of the shootings.
Meanwhile, Jasmine and her partner have decided leave the Palms. The Brisbane couple had only been living at the complex for a week.
Visibly emotional, the pair packed up their belongings and moved out on Wednesday.
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