Christchurch shooting: Police swarm quiet street after early morning drive-by shooting

The Hei Hei house which was targeted in the early hours of this morning. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

Armed officers swarmed a quiet Christchurch street in the early hours this morning, after gunshots were fired before a car sped off.

Police were called to Keri Pl in the suburb of Hei Hei at around 4.35am.

Detective Sergeant David Parker said gunshots were reportedly heard and a vehicle was “seen leaving the area at speed”.

“Police attended and located evidence outside the property, which was unoccupied, to indicate a firearm had been discharged,” Parker said.

“There will be a police presence in the area while officers make a number of enquiries, working to determine what happened.”

A resident, who did not want to be named, said that he heard two loud bangs just before 4.30am this morning.

He said a car sped into the street before firing shots at the home pictured before speeding off. He said police had been at the property for much of the day.

Police are often seen in Keri Pl, residents have said. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

Another neighbour said the road became flooded with people early this morning.

When asked if the police had a presence in the area today, he said, “When have they not?”

Police visited the street often, several residents said.

It comes a week after a man was shot during a suspected gang-related fight at a Christchurch house in Hoani St, Northcote.

Three men have been arrested in relation to that incident, which left four people injured, one of them critically.

“We understand that incidents like this can be unsettling for the community, and would like to reassure people that we do not believe there is a risk to the wider public,” said Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves after last Wednesday’s incident.