David Cerven. Photo / Supplied
David Cerven was "distraught" after the recent break-up of a two-year relationship with his Slovakian girlfriend, according to a former workmate.
The former workmate, who wished to remain annonymous, also said the 21-year-old claimed he needed money to repay a loan for surgery on a knee injury he sustained as a sniper in Iraq.
"He was distraught about his life, he said it was hell, but he seemed like a 'get up and keep going' kind of guy."
He said he worked alongside Cerven, who was shot dead by police in Myers Park in central Auckland on Sunday night, for two weeks.
He said Cerven claimed to have been shot in the knee about nine months after being deployed to Iraq.
He borrowed money to pay for surgery, which he had before coming to New Zealand.
Cerven walked with a limp as a result of the injury, and had two scars around his kneecap.
"He was a nice guy," the workmate said said. "We got kind of close. He shared a lot with me and I felt sorry for the dude."
He said the 21-year-old had lived in New Zealand since March with his girlfriend of two years, but they broke up a few weeks ago.
After the break-up Cerven resigned abruptly, telling colleagues he was going to rejoin the US army so he could repay the loan for his surgery.
The workmate said Cerven spoke about his poverty-stricken life in Slovakia.
"He had a tough upbringing - his way out was fighting."
And he said hearing that Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies on Auckland's North Shore was a shock.
"He had seen a lot of pain and suffering, but he was a good person, he knew right from wrong, and would talk quite passionately about relationships and love."
Read more:
• David Cerven 'was really excited about New Zealand'
When Cerven told him of his life before New Zealand he appeared bitter and confused. But he got on well with other workers.
"He had a humorous side and a strong sense of camaraderie that you could see through his interactions," the workmate said.
"Even though he wasn't that good at English, he certainly tried his best - he could talk the hind legs off a donkey.
"He said he loved this country so much, because it was so nice and peaceful.
"He was a hard worker - he came to the company with no experience, and got given labouring work. It was a tough job, but he didn't complain.
"There's no excuse for what he went and did, but let's see him as a man that was on the edge after a hard life."
Another former colleague, who also wished not to be named, said Cerven's loan for his surgery came from his mother, and he was set on paying her back.
"He was telling us he was going to go back to fight in the US Army. That was part of his long-term plan. We tried to talk him out of it."
The colleague said he had no reason to disbelief Cerven's claim that he had been in the US Army.
He said Cerven spoke of the likelihood of being killed once he enlisted. He believed his death in Myers Park was "very deliberate" and would have been planned for months.
"He knew what he was up to. He was set on dying. But we never thought he was going to do it this way.
"I told him to his face that he was messed up and that he needed to sort his shit out - that there was plenty of other options to get money.
"I said, 'have you asked your mum whether she wants her son, or her loan paid?' But he was set on not giving her the option."
He didn't know if Cerven had life insurance but said his personality wasn't all dark.
"He could be very happy, and he always wanted to look after other people. He spoke about his mum a lot."
The pair socialised regularly and went to the Highlanders v Blues game at Eden Park in June.
"It was his first time at a rugby game - he enjoyed it but I think he enjoyed socialising with us more."
Other times, they went to a backpackers' bar for a few drinks and a dance.
"He was a really good guy."
Victoria Safronova met Cerven when he was 18 and training at a mixed martial arts club in Vancouver over three months in 2012.
Close to tears, the Russian born woman said she was saddened by his death, and the way it had happened.
"The David I knew would never, ever try to take his own life - this is very confusing for me."
She described him as being shy and kind, with a huge amount of love for his mother, and said he lived in the Canadian city with a host family.
Cerven became close friends with Ms Safronova and her boyfriend - also a fighter - and she said the pair talked on Skype all the time after he left Canada.
"He didn't have a lot of money, but he was such a nice guy, he would never ask for anything," she said.
That meant the group of friends spent much of the summer having barbeques at the beach and cooking dinner at home.
"It was a very happy time for him," Ms Safronova said.
"He trained a lot. His English was really bad, but that didn't put him off always wanting to get to know Canadian girls.
"We would always teach him words - my favourite one was how he pronounced 'avesum' instead of 'awesome'."
Ms Safronova said Cerven loved playing with his host family's two small dogs.
"He would always take them out for a walk and send us pictures ... he called them 'my chihuahuas'."
She said his family in Slovakia was poor and a lot of the motivation behind his hard work training as a fighter was so that he could help his mother out financially. He never told her about any problems or depression.
Ms Safronova said Cerven returned to Slovakia about September 2012, and she hadn't spoken to him for two years. She was unaware of any plans he had to move to either the US or to New Zealand.
A kaumatua and kuia are blessing Myers Park where Cerven was shot dead.
Seven police officers are standing with their hands together and heads bowed during the blessing.
Auckland Council and Auckland District Health Board officials are also present.
A waiata is sung by the group, standing on the slight hill where Cerven died.
The area, near the Queen St entrance to the park, is still cordoned off by emergency tape.
The ceremony ends with the words: "Ake, ake, ake. Amine."
Passers by have stopped to watch the prayers.
The police officers and Maori leaders did a hongi on the site and left to wash their hands.
Kaumatua Bobby Newson said the ceremony was about restoring the park as a playground and freeing the site of Cerven's spirit.
Auckland City District Commander Superintendent Richard Chambers said it was also about paying respect to Cerven and his family.
"The reason I'm here today and the reason I'm here with my colleagues is to bless the scene and think about the...tragic death of David.
"We acknowledge David, we acknowledge his family, we acknowledge this place as the location where he lost his life."
Mr Chambers said the cordoned-off area of the park would be reopened soon, as the police investigation wraps up.
Police could not give an update about the investigation at this stage, he said.
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• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
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• The Word
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• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER Suicide Prevention
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