Homicide investigation underway after Kaikohe shooting

A garage and driveway on Heke St remained behind a cordon and under police guard yesterday. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A homicide investigation is under way in Kaikohe after a man was fatally injured in a shooting incident.

Police were called to the property, at the corner of Hongi St and Heke St, at 8.45pm on Monday when members of the public reported a firearm had been discharged.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Dalzell, area investigations manager for the Mid and Far North CIB, said police found a man near a vehicle in a critical condition.

The man was flown to Auckland City Hospital for treatment but died en route, Dalzell said.

A pair of abandoned sandals can be seen on the driveway behind the cordon. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The driveway where the incident occurred was put under scene guard overnight. A thorough scene examination was carried out yesterday.

A person was assisting police with their inquiries, Dalzell said.

At this stage police were not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.
The investigation was still in its early stages, he added.

Yesterday an area outside a garage on Heke St was still cordoned off with a police command truck and at least two police patrol cars present all day.

One officer was stopping cars and asking residents what they had seen and heard overnight.

Seven cars were parked outside the garage or on the property. A pair of abandoned plastic sandals could be seen beside a car on the gravel driveway.

A police officer and a detective at the scene of the fatal shooting on Heke St. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Nearby homes on Heke St are tidy with well-kept gardens. The property backs on to Kaikohe Bowling Club while a childcare centre is located on the other side of Hongi St.

Heke St remained open yesterday while residents went about their daily lives.

One neighbour, who lives almost opposite the scene, said he had taken his hearing aids earlier that evening out so heard nothing.

However, sometime after 8pm flashing lights caught his attention so he looked outside and saw the street was lined with police cars and an ambulance.

He saw the family that lived in the house walking up the road and believed they were going to stay with relatives nearby.

Police cars stayed outside the property with their lights flashing all night, he said.