Armed squad called to local shooting

Armed police set up a roadblock after a shooting incident in Willow Place. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Eye witnesses say a young man lay injured on a front lawn for over an hour after being struck by a car during a Whangarei shooting incident.

A Willow Place resident who watched the drama unfold from his window told the Northern Advocate a young man lay injured on the front lawn of the house beside his for over an hour.

The man had been struck by a vehicle linked to a shooting incident about 1.50pm which led to Horahora St being placed under lockdown by the Northland police Armed Offenders Squad.

AOS callout to Willow Place, Maunu Rd, Whangarei after shots were fired. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Cordons were put in place along State Highway 14 just before 2pm, with traffic travelling towards Whangarei Hospital on Maunu Rd being turned back to Whangarei. There was a cordon near Ngahere Dr on the other side of Silverstream Rd, where traffic was also being turned around.

Detective senior sergeant Dene Begbie said it was believed that three shots had been fired but police were still working to confirm exactly what happened.

"It's clear there has been an altercation involving a number of people," Mr Begbie said. "It's too early at this stage to say exactly what has gone on".

When police arrived on the scene they located a vehicle with two men in possession of a firearm, both were under questioning, Mr Begbie said.

While police were initially investigating the possibility of an additional offender, they now believed no one else was involved.

The injured man had been taken to Whangarei Hospital but it was unclear what condition he was in, Mr Begbie said.

Motorists got out of their parked vehicles and stood on the side of Maunu Rd, watching as police cars entered the cordon nearest the hospital.

People also stood on the decks of flats overlooking the cordon.

Just after 3pm, there were seven police cars, one van, an ambulance and one St John ute positioned at that cordon.

A Willow Place resident, who did not want to be identified, was watching TV when he heard a loud bang which he initially thought was a fire cracker.

Whangarei locals look on as police encircle the area after an AOS callout.

The resident said his neighbour had seen a man with a shotgun and the injured man had been run over by a car.

The injured man was responsive and was being looked after by Willow Place residents before AOS members stretchered him away from the area at about 4.10pm.

A Northland DHB spokesperson confirmed Whangarei Hospital was in lockdown, which meant nobody could go in or out until about 4.45pm.

Hora Hora School, Pompallier College and Maunu School were initially keeping students at school that lived in the area of the cordon or who had not yet been picked up by parents until the same time as a precaution.

Stace Halford said she was at her home on Silverstream Rd when she heard two gun shots, a pause and then another gun shot.

She said she immediately grabbed her 2-year-old child and drove away because she feared for their safety.

One Maunu Rd resident, whose property backs onto Willow Place, was parked in his driveway when he said he heard three loud gun shots.

"There were definitely gun shots. It made me stop and look up. There were two close shots and then 'boom' - like shooting a target."