Quote:Police say a 54-year-old man is dead after a overnight standoff with police, following the discovery of guns at a property.

In a statement this morning, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said a search warrant was issued yesterday at a St Martins address where police found a number of firearms.

Police then sought a 54-year-old man over the guns, but he died during a subsequent standoff with police.

Police located the man inside a stopped vehicle in the Richmond Park area about 12.30am today, but he refused to get out of his vehicle.

A police negotiation team spoke with him over a number of hours, and a police helicopter was called in, as well as Armed Offender Squad members.

About 3.40am, police approached the vehicle and found that the man was critically injured with what looked to be a stab wound - a knife was found in the vehicle.

Members of the public reported hearing gunshots, but police said that was the sound of gas canisters being deployed.

Mr Bush said a high priority investigation is underway to find out whether or not this man posed a threat to the community.

Further searches of properties and interviews with family and associates will be carried out.

Mr Bush said that, at this time, there is no evidence to suggest the man was connected to the March 15 terrorist attack, but that they are looking at any potential link.

Police will remain in the area of Richmond Park and St Martins as scene examinations continue.

Mr Bush said he was grateful to the members of the public who had reported the suspicious activity of the man.

Quote:A former Russian soldier who feared going back to prison tried to call his son before dying of a suspected suicide following a three-hour standoff with police.

The family of 54-year-old Troy Dubovskiy told Stuff he was sought by police after his property in the Christchurch suburb of St Martins was searched on Tuesday.
Police acted on information from the public.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said police found a number of firearms at the property and Dubovskiy, a welder and steel fabricator.

Dubovskiy's 16-year-old son, who Stuff has decided not to name, said police searched the homes of his father, mother and grandparents after someone reported a photo the teen made his profile picture on Facebook five days ago.
The photo, which he first posted to Facebook several years ago, shows the teen holding a replica rifle and wearing a Russian helmet. The teen used the equipment along with his father while playing Airsoft, a team sport where people shoot each other with pellets using replica guns.

"I just thought I'd change up my profile picture and I found that photo and saved and uploaded it. I didn't think much of it," the teen said.
He was about to go the gym with his friends on Tuesday when a friend messaged him to say there was a large police presence near his father's home.
On arrival he saw a large number of armed police blocking off the road and a bridge. His father was still out working at the time, he said.
After establishing his identity, police told the 16-year-old he was going to be arrested for possession of ammunition and a firearm in his room.

He said the firearm in his room was an 8 millimetre blank pistol. The other gun, found in his father's room was an illegal, modified SKS semi-automatic, he said.
Also in the house was his father's large collection of World War II German memorabilia, including uniforms, pouches and helmets.

The teen said he was taken to a police station and interviewed about the items, initially in the presence of his brother. His mother, Dubovskiy's ex-partner, then came to the station as well.

The family were held in the station for several hours as police negotiated with Dubovskiy.
The 54-year-old tried calling his son once and ex-partner twice, however officers told them not to answer the phone. His ex-partner briefly spoke to him, and he said goodbye, his son said.
Dubovskiy also called another friend, 21-year-old Jonathan Hinds.
"He just called me brother and said goodbye," Hinds told Stuff.

Dubovskiy's son and ex-partner were allowed to leave about 4am. About an hour later the teen was sitting in his room when officers arrived at their home.
"I go to see what it is and I just see my mother and brother in tears, crying and it just hit me."

He said his father, who had previously spent time in prison for assault, was worried about going back to prison for possessing the illegal firearm.
Hinds said Dubovskiy, who was a member of the Russian special forces, fighting in Afghanistan and Chechnya, told him he felt "naked" without a gun.
"He needed something to give him that security," he said.
Dubovskiy's son said his father was "fascinated" by World War II and the German military but was not a white supremacist.

"By no means is he a suspicious person or potentially threatening in any sort of way dangerous," he said.
"He was a really good person who guided me through my life . . . he meant so much to me, he had a great work ethic and was very intelligent.
"There was so much he already taught me in life and could've taught more, there was so much potential."

Bush said immediate first aid was provided on Dubovskiy, however, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man's vehicle was examined by the NZDF Explosive Ordnance Squad as a precaution and had been deemed safe.

There were no firearms in the vehicle.