Witness watches three men with gun storm Napier home: ‘We’re petrified’

Police were outside a house in Riverbend Rd, Maraenui, this morning. Photo / NZME

A man says he is “petrified” after watching three men with a gun storm a house in Napier, leaving two people at the house in hospital with moderate injuries.

The incident, which included a firearm being fired at the Riverbend Rd house in Maraenui as the trio left, is one of two serious acts of violence in one night in Hawke’s Bay.

Police say both are gang-related.

About 2.20am on Friday, just hours after the Maraenui incident, two youths suffered life-threatening injuries in an attack in Omahu Rd, Hastings.

Police say additional staff are being deployed throughout Hawke’s Bay in response to the violence.

The Riverbend Rd witness, who lives nearby, told Hawke’s Bay Today the three attackers injured two people before firing a shot as they fled.

The witness said a .22 bullet casing was found on his driveway after the incident, about 9.30pm on Thursday.

It was the second armed attack on the same house in the past six days, he said, after a drive-by shooting last Friday.

The neighbourhood was on edge. “My daughter sleeps in the front room [of our house] and we’re petrified.

“I haven’t slept since the drive-by last week.”

Police were on Riverbend Rd this morning and confirmed later that they were called to reports of a serious assault in which a firearm was discharged.

The two injured youths in the Hastings incident were taken to hospital.

Omahu Rd was closed between the State Highway 2 roundabout and Stoneycroft St for at least 10 hours, from about 2.30am to 1pm, before being reopened.

Police examined the scene, and neighbouring shops were asked to provide CCTV footage.

The police cordon at Omahu Rd in Hastings. Photo / NZME

Hawke’s Bay area prevention manager Inspector Caroline Martin said the two incidents were gang-related, and additional staff are being deployed throughout the region.

“There will be an increased police presence across Hawke’s Bay while we conduct our inquiries in relation to these incidents.

“We will not stand for any behaviour that results in harm to members of our community.”

The Riverbend Rd house is managed by Kāinga Ora, which confirmed there had been recent firearms incidents at one of its Napier properties and that police were investigating.

“We’re aware of neighbours’ understandable concerns about their safety,” it said.

“We are staying in close contact with police about the situation and supporting them as much as we can in their efforts to keep our tenants and the local community safe.”

Martin urged anyone with information to contact police, saying, “Even small details might help us.”

Anyone with information is asked to make a report online or call 105 and quote file number 250905/0501.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at Crime Stoppers New Zealand.