Weapons found at house that was shot at

Police have recovered firearms, ammunition and molotov cocktails from the Totara Street house that was shot at on Saturday night and a gang member from that address has been arrested.

A woman was alone in the house with her five daughters at around 9.30pm on Saturday night when a shotgun blast was fired at the kitchen window.

The woman told The Herald she and her children had fortunately been in another room watching the World Cup netball when it happened.

Police attended the scene on the night and executed a search warrant at the house in the wake of the incident.

“We have seized firearms, ammunition and two molotov cocktails,” said Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Moorhouse.

“A 25-year-old gang member who is staying at the address came into the police station on request to see us today, and he has been arrested.

“He faces charges of unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and restricted weapons, and bail has been opposed.”

Det Snr Sgt Moorhouse confirmed the woman and her children were alone in the house when the shot was fired.

“She’s perfectly correct to say that.

“We’re seeing far too much of this.

“The gang members involved are showing blatant disregard for others while they’re having a go at each other, and putting whanau, including children at risk.”

Det Snr Sgt Moorhouse said they had been following some positive lines of inquiry in relation to the shooting incident.

“We certainly feel we’re making progress. The actions that we’re taking are indicative of the ongoing police resource that we’re putting into tackling gang violence,” he said.

“This tension has also put the wider community under a significant cloud of uncertainty, which is having an impact.

“We’re committed to putting resources into this ongoing problem to suppress and disrupt Gang Violence in the community.”

Police have appealed to anyone who was in the Totara Street area at around the time of the shooting Saturday night to come forward and talk to them.

They can do that at the police station, or via the 105 non-emergency number or by ringing Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

* According to the latest data there have been more than a hundred shooting incidents in the Eastern Police District in the past three years, almost all of them gang-related.

Those incidents have resulted in 30 people being wounded and two women killed.

Both of the fatalities were in Gisborne.