The body of a man who died in an overnight shooting near Waitārere Beach is expected to be removed from the property today.  Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said police are expected to take several days to complete a scene examination of the rural property off State Highway 1, where the man died and three others were found with critical gunshot wounds.  The Herald understands the man who died was 60-year-old Benjamin Timmins, while the injured were a woman, 46, and two young men, aged 17 and 21.  The local mayor earlier described the shooting as a “tragic family incident”.  A fifth person, understood to be a family member, was found at the property unharmed and is now being looked after by relatives.  The man’s body remains at the scene, and will be removed today ahead of a post-mortem examination tomorrow.  Police and forensic investigators at the property on Waitārere Beach Rd following a shooting that left a man dead and three others in hospital. Photo / Mark Mitchell  “Locals can expect to see a police presence in the area for the time being,” Grantham said.  All three victims remain in Wellington Hospital in critical condition.  According to RNZ, police were initially called to the Waitārere Beach address hours before they responded to the shooting.  Grantham told the outlet the older woman had made a 111 call about 7pm, yet was unable to share further details about the action police took in response.  “We had been called to the address earlier in the night and we had attended and from that we took some action,” he said.  “And the next call, of course, we attended and found what we found.”  The Herald has approached police for comment.  Police are expected to remain in and around Waitārere Beach over the coming days while a scene examination is conducted at the property. Photo / Mark Mitchell  ‘Ben was a broken man’  Timmins’ sister Rachael O’Grady told the Herald her brother was a former soldier who had since turned to farming.  She said he worked closely with animals and bred cats and dogs, including ragdolls and golden retrievers.  “Ben was a broken man,” she said.  O’Grady said the 60-year-old was known as a “staunch peacekeeping man” who had previously spent time in Iraq.  “He was commended for rescuing hostages,” she said.  At the time of the interview with the Herald, O’Grady said she was on the way to identify her brother’s body.  In a tribute post on Facebook, O’Grady described Timmins as “my rock, my friend, my protector and above all ... my brother”.  “I will miss him,” she wrote.  “Loved friend, father, uncle and brother. Trickster, funny fella, all round solid gold.”  The deceased man is understood to be 60-year-old former soldier Benjamin Timmins. Photo / Mark Mitchell, Supplied  What happened?  Emergency services, including police, rescue helicopters and ambulances, were called to the property about 12.40am on Wednesday, after a 111 call from the settlement north of Levin.  The shooting left three people with life-threatening injuries.  Timmins was found dead at the Waitārere Beach Rd address and police were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.  Inspector Grantham said officers were at the property within eight minutes.  “Responding officers were told that a firearm had been discharged at the address and, when they arrived, four people were found with wounds that are consistent with being shot,” he said.  “The quick response by police likely saved the three victims’ lives.  “Our officers were confronted with a harrowing scene that no one should have to witness.”  The woman was taken to Palmerston North Hospital by ambulance and the two men flown to Wellington Hospital. She has since been transferred to Wellington Hospital as well and all three remain in a critical condition.  “Another young p...