Whangarei police have launched a homicide investigation after the death of young woman in Otangarei.
The investigation is focussed on a house in Holmes Ave.
Armed police officers swooped on the suburb yesterday afternoon, cordoning off streets and searching vehicles and pedestrians.
Detective Senior Sergeant Marty Ruth said more details would be revealed
today.
"We are investigating the circumstances of the death ... We are talking to a number of people."
Asked when the woman had died, he said police were following a "range of events over the last two days".
A resident who asked not to be named reported hearing four gunshots fired in the Holmes Ave house late yesterday afternoon.
She also heard yelling and warnings being shouted.
"I was scared," she said.
Whangarei police resources were stretched to capacity by the incident, which is the third homicide in as many months in Northland.
In June a 22-year-old woman died in a house fire in Akerama Rd, south of Kawakawa.
A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder and arson.
Last month Whare Junior Pitman, aged 19, was charged with the manslaughter of 19-year-old Anaru Tamihana who died in a fight in central Whangarei.
Holmes Ave is a short distance from Matai St where two men allegedly attacked 41-year-old Stanley Wells last December.
Mr Wells died in hospital from head injuries.
The two men jointly charged with his murder - Eruera Griffin Shortland, 20, of Otangarei, and a 16-year-old youth, whose name is suppressed - are to go on trial in the High Court at Whangarei next month.
