Witness recounts how shooting in Masterton unfolded in front of him during walk home

A man who witnessed the incident said it was horrific. Photo / File

A man who witnessed a shooting in Masterton last night remembers a loud crack and a flash of light piercing through the darkness.

The man, who wishes not to be named, told the Herald he was walking down Crayne St around 9pm when the incident unfolded in front of him.

"Initially it was yelling and then it was just crack, it sounded like a high calibre rifle," he said.

"I saw the flash of the gun as he fired - I just did not expect it.

"She screamed and he shot again, I think it was a he, I can't really explain the emotion that I felt but her screams were just bloodcurdling."

After hearing the second shot go off, the man ran away from the area in shock and called emergency services.

The witness was walking down Crayne St when he heard the gunfire.

Detective Sergeant Mike Smith said two local people, a 30-year-old man and 29-year-old woman, had been arrested after the shooting which happened on Dixon St about 9pm Sunday. They would appear in the Masterton District Court today.

A woman received serious wounds to her leg after the shooting and was in hospital recovering from surgery.

The firearm had been located, but police were seeking more people who witnessed the event and believed the people involved were known to each other, Smith said.

A spokesperson for Wairarapa Hospital said after the incident the hospital went into lockdown before the patient was airlifted to Wellington.

Police remained in the town throughout the evening and locals told the Herald a helicopter was flying over with a spotlight around 10.30pm.

Another local said she heard two loud bangs around 9pm and told the Herald she knew they were gunshots.

"They were very loud and quite apparent that they were gunshots," she said.

"I went outside and saw a woman walk past who said 'did you hear that too?' She was on the phone to the police already.

"I could hear yelling in the distance. The yelling could be heard for about five minutes I'd say ... I did not hear any sirens though."

The witness said he was in shock following the incident and it was the last thing he thought would happen on his walk home.

"You don't expect it and don't think it will happen," he said.

"It's stuff you see in movies and video games and stuff. It didn't feel real."

He extended his best wishes to the woman and her family.

"I hope she recovers well and never want to see an attack like that or hear the screaming and noise that I did ever again."