KEY POINTS:
Police have seized a car following the driveby shooting which left a man dead in the small Waikato community of Waharoa on Sunday.
Waikato CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Nicholls said they believed the car could hold crucial evidence for their homicide inquiry.
One man has been arrested
and charged with assault after Matamata man Desmond Francis Paddy Arahanga, 28, was shot dead outside a McGowan St address in Waharoa.
A rifle was later found near another house set ablaze in nearby Hedley St thought possibly to be a revenge arson.
Yesterday a post-mortem carried out in Auckland determined Mr Arahanga, 28, died from blood loss resulting from internal injuries after being shot four times in his upper body.
Mr Nicholls said the car, a blue 1994 Subaru Legacy Brighton, registration DFS845, was found in Matamata overnight.
"We believe this car was the car used by the offenders in Sunday's shooting and the car is currently being forensically examined.
"This car matches the description given by a number of witnesses interviewed by police and so we're now seeking information from anyone who may have seen the vehicle before Sunday's shooting and since then."
Mr Nicholls acknowledged support from the local community and police found the car after a member of the public came forward and told investigators of its location.
Mr Arahanga's body was returned to his family yesterday afternoon where the father of two will be taken to his family's marae tomorrow for his tangi.
Mr Arahanga will be buried on Friday.
Mr Nicholls said police were working closely with community elders to ensure emotions did not boil over and people remained calm to allow investigators to carry out their role.
"We have received good cooperation from the local Waharoa community and are thankful for the support received from local leaders.
"I would like to reiterate earlier requests that people contact police with any information they may have on Sunday's events to allow us to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion," he said.
Police have said more arrests are likely following the driveby shooting .
A 23-year-old man appeared in Hamilton District Court accused of assaulting Mr Arahanga and was remanded in custody without plea.
About 20 police were working on the investigation.
- NZPA
