Inquiries ongoing into drive-by shootings in city

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Police are running inquiries into three more gang-related shootings in the city, subsequent to the shots fired at houses in Newton Street in Kaiti and in Mangapapa Road earlier this month.

The first drive-by shootings occurred on September 6 and 7.

The other incidents, again involving shots fired at houses from vehicles, happened on September 8 and 9, with houses and a vehicle shot at in Roebuck Road in Te Hapara, and Kowhai Street in Elgin.

“The firearms used were a shotgun and a point-22 calibre rifle,” said Detective Sergeant Eric Hunter.

“Again, fortunately,  no one  was injured in those three incidents.

“A white Mazda Atenza with a spoiler on the back is a vehicle of interest to us in relation to two shootings in Kowhai Street in Elgin.

“We are also interested in a silver Subaru Impreza in relation to the earlier Mangapapa shooting.

“These incidents are all

gang-related.”

Det Sgt Hunter said two alleged offenders are in custody, charged in relation to other matters at this stage, as part of their inquiry.

“We are following lines of inquiry in relation to all five shooting incidents.”

Three gang members aged 18, 25 and 31 were arrested during a vehicle stop on the night of September 6 when they were found in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and have been charged accordingly.

Police executed a search warrant yesterday at a house one of those men lived in,  and seized shotgun and point-22 calibre ammunition and a sawn-off 22 calibre rifle.

A small amount of methamphetamine was also found.

Anyone with information relating to the shootings is urged to contact police via 105 and quote file numbers 230907/1186 or 230908/6585, respectively.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously via Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.