A teenage Black Power gang member, alleged to have shot his Mongrel Mob neighbour, remains on the run this morning but police say they are confident they will find him.
The 42-year-old Mongrel Mob member was shot in the shoulder about 8am yesterday and police, including the armed offenders squad,
are looking for a 19-year-old Black Power member.
The men were neighbours and were fighting when one grabbed the firearm and fired two shots at the other, police said.
The victim was taken to Wairoa Hospital for treatment to his shoulder and pellet wounds to his face, then transferred to Hastings Hospital.
His injuries were not thought to be life threatening, police said.
Detective Sergeant John McCarthy of Wairoa police said they were yet to find the suspect, but were following "strong lines of inquiry".
He said the armed offenders squad patrolled the streets last night and there had been no further violence.
Sergeant Aubrey Ormond said there had been a spate of violent crime in Wairoa over the weekend and police officers from Gisborne were helping with investigations.
Police were also seeking a person who attacked a 30-year-old woman with a bottle, cutting her right eye, at a 21st birthday party.
Police were following leads, Mr Ormond said.
Another man was hospitalised with serious facial injuries after a group set upon him and two other men outside a local sports club late on Saturday night, Mr Ormond said.
The 18-year-old was transferred to Taranaki Hospital for treatment. The two other victims, aged 18 and 20, were treated for moderate facial injuries at Wairoa Hospital and discharged.
Police had arrested two men in connection with this incident, who were due to appear in Wairoa District Court today.
One had been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and the other was charged with assault.
Wairoa, which has a population of about 8500, was the scene of a number of gang shootings last year.
In August a man was shot in the face during an all-in violent brawl which saw 24 people arrested and the month before another gang member was shot in the face.
In October a Mongrel Mob member was shot twice as he refuelled his car at a service station.
- NZPA
