Nick Marshall's shocked partner has come out swinging against police after officers shot him dead during an armed raid.
Kendyl Eadie posted an emotional message on her Facebook page last night, saying the police "murdered" her "beautiful partner" who she says was one of the good guys.
"He wasn't armed or threating [sic]," she wrote.
Marshall, 36, was fatally shot during a police raid for drugs and guns at a Hamilton warehouse on Tuesday night.
In contrast to Eadie's account, police say Marshall had a pump-action shotgun and was a threat to police, despite repeated calls for him to "desist".
Eadie has called for the police officers involved to be held accountable for their actions.
"im in shock still cant beleive those who r suppose to serve and protect nz r cold blooded killers. I love u nick, r.i.f.p," she posted.
"U wer one of the good ones, il fight this in ur memory, say hi to elvis for me."
Eadie's post continued, saying she loved Marshall, who gave her the will to live and better herself.
"I will continue to try," she wrote.
His other friends remembered him as a "big friendly giant" who loved cars and guns and working with his father at the family auto-shop in Hamilton.
But he'd recently fallen on hard times after struggling with addictions, according to one mate.
Others spoke of a "neat, kind guy", a "BFG" who "definitely didn't deserve to go out this early".
Marshall grew up in Hamilton and attended the private St Paul's Collegiate School before joining the family business at Marshall Transmissions in the suburb of Frankton.
The business, which carried the catch phrase "the transmission magicians", was started by his father Nelson Marshall and his wife Margaret in the 1970s.
The Herald understands that at one point the business was so successful the family owned several buildings in Grasslands Place, in the industrial suburb.
But in September last year Marshall Transmissions was put into liquidation.
Friends said things went downhill after Nick Marshall took over the business and his addictions put a strain on it financially.
It was removed from the Companies Office register in May this year.
The business, now under new ownership, is across the road from where Marshall was slain in a warehouse owned by his father.
Long-time family friend Drew Hansen called Marshall a "real gentle person".
"He was a cool guy. He taught me a lot of things. It's a bit of a shock."
Hansen said Marshall was "into cars" and owned a Ford Falcon XR6 turbo.
"He loved cars. I used to spend a lot of time down there fixing my car with him."
When the business was sold Marshall set up shop in the warehouse in Grasslands Pl, rebuilding guns and gearboxes, Hansen said.
Hansen was adamant his friend of 15 years did not sell or deal drugs.
But he had addictions which resulted in the 36-year-old losing his home in Lyon St, Frankton.
Marshall moved into the workshop when he lost his house, Hansen said.
Despite police reports that a shotgun and live cartridge were found where Marshall had been standing when police opened fire, Hansen did not believe Marshall would have raised the firearm at police saying it was out of character.
"His guns were never loaded. He built guns. He started a business fixing them."
Hansen said Marshall had been going out with girlfriend Eadie for about nine months.
She was at the workshop with Marshall when police arrived about 6.45pm to execute a planned search warrant.
Another friend, who did not want to be named, said she couldn't believe the news.
The Hamilton woman, who previously ran in the same circle of friends as Marshall, described him as "gentle and caring".
"He's a really gentle guy and that's why I'm really surprised that he got shot. I can't believe it. He's a real caring guy so even if he was mixed up in those circles I find it hard to believe that he would be the person that would be aggressive."
She said Marshall's circle of friends were "quite Christian" and he once attended Gateway Church in Hamilton.
The woman said when the business did not go well without his father, it was disappointing for Marshall.
"He'd had some troubles in the past few years."