KEY POINTS:
A youth is facing a firearms charge after a 16-year-old boy was shot in the face in Hamilton yesterday.
The victim was reported to be in a serious but stable condition in Waikato Hospital today after the incident at a house in McIntosh St in Fairfield about 10.30am yesterday.
He was reportedly shot at close range with a .22 rifle.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Page from the Hamilton CIB said today an 18-year-old unemployed Hamilton man was arrested last night and was to appear in Hamilton District Court on Monday on a single firearms related charge.
"The investigation is continuing with investigators focusing on creating an accurate reconstruction of the events before and after the shooting," he said.
"That reconstruction will assist police in determining if any further charges should be considered."
Police said they had yet to interview the victim to get his version of events but were not looking for anyone else over the shooting.
Yesterday the property where the shooting happened was guarded by an armed policeman as forensic teams continued their examination.
A neighbour, known only as "Peter", was enjoying a cup of tea and reading a book when he heard what was probably the gunshot.
"I didn't think anything of it," he said.
"We hear bangs like that around here all the time with cars backfiring and all of that ... this place probably isn't as safe as it used to be."
A woman was watching television when she heard the loud bang.
"And then I heard the mother screaming, she was hysterical," she said.
"Suddenly a lot of cops showed up, a few of them were carrying some pretty big guns ... it's just a worry that people on our street actually have guns."
The woman said she saw police taking what appeared to be the weapon away from the house.
Other neighbours said youths dressed in red - the colour associated with the Mongrel Mob or Bloods - would often congregate outside the house but they kept to themselves.
Mr Page said the boy would probably need surgery.
