Police hunt gunman after Wanganui shooting

Police say they have a pretty good idea who shot a Wanganui man last night.

The 26-year-old victim is in a serious condition in Wanganui Hospital this morning after undergoing emergency surgery.

Central police communications inspector Steve Darroch said today police were looking for the offender and that they had a "pretty good idea" of his identity.

Police that the victim was hit three times in the shooting in Cornfoot Street in the suburb of Castlecliff around 9pm. He was driven to hospital in a private car.

Meanwhile, police received another callout about 9.30pm to the other side of the city after residents in suburban Aramoho reported hearing gunshots.

Police cordoned off several streets while an armed offenders squad searched an area behind a Mongrel Mob gang house in Paterson Street, for an armed man believed to be hiding in a shed.

Mr Darroch said he could not comment on whether the two incidents were linked.

He said the shot man was not a gang member and that the shooting had nothing to do with gang activity earlier in the week.

"It's not related to that gang activity at all. It's something completely separate," Mr Darroch said.

He said police wanted to hear from anyone who was in the area of Cornfoot Street near Karewa Street between 9.30pm and 9.45pm and who may have heard shots or witnessed any suspicious activity in the area.

Anyone with information should call the Wanganui police station on (06) 349 0600.

- NZHERALD STAFF

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