Police have revealed up to four shots were fired during the overnight shooting in downtown Auckland that left two people critically injured.
One person was shot in the head and another in the abdomen during an altercation on Queen St just before midnight.
One victim is now stable, the other victim remains in critical condition in Auckland City Hospital.
The shooter fled the scene on an electric Lime scooter.
Speaking to media in Auckland, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton said police are continuing to investigate and are following positive lines of inquiry involving CCTV.
“A small group of people were witnessed fighting before one offender pulled out a firearm and fired several shots,” Bolton said.
Bolton said police believe it’s an isolated incident and there is no risk to the public.
“We’re asking anyone with information to please come forward and speak to us.”
Bolton would not comment on whether the incident was gang-related and or the exact number of people involved, but confirmed police could be looking for more than one person.
Bolton said CCTV is helping with lines of inquiry into the investigation.
The offender was on a Lime scooter before and after the incident.
“What I can say at this stage, was two groups were unknown to each other and the rest of it just forming part of our investigation.”
Bolton described during the incident there were “words exchanged” which led the person to get off the scooter and approach.
“I’m very concerned about the victims who were going about their own business, they weren’t looking for trouble,” Bolton said.
A Lime Scooter spokesperson said they were assisting police with enquiries.
Earlier, police said both victims were in hospital with life-threatening injuries following the incident, which happened around 11.30pm.
Police said they were called following reports of a fight between a group of people on the corner of Fort St and Queen St.
A group of people started fighting before one person pulled out a firearm and fired a number of shots.
Both the wounded people were taken to Auckland City Hospital in critical condition.
The gunman was witnessed fleeing the scene on a Lime Scooter, wearing distinctive red and black pants and a red hat.
Footage from the scene showed armed police surrounding a person on the ground. Photos of the scene also show multiple scooters lying on their sides.
A witness told the Herald he heard multiple gunshots and people yelling before looking out of the window to see a man lying on the ground and another being tended to by police.
Another witness told TVNZ’s Breakfast they heard screaming and several loud bangs. When they looked out the window they saw a group of young people looking “panicked”, with a person lying still on the ground.
Police closed off a section of Auckland’s lower Queen St following the shooting, before reopening it at 7am.
“We believe that this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing risk to the community,” Bolton said.
“Police have zero tolerance for violence in public places, especially where firearms are used, and are working to hold the offenders to account.”
Police were following “positive lines of enquiry” and anyone with information was asked to come forward.
Police have completed a scene examination and are now looking for all those involved.
Akula Sharma is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2022. She has previously worked at the Gisborne Herald.