South Auckland shooting: Man in his 70s killed in Ōtahuhu

A man in his 70s was shot and died at the scene. Police have now launched a homicide investigation. Video / Hayden Woodward

A homicide investigation is under way after a man was fatally shot in Ōtahuhu last night.

Today police revealed the man was in his 70s and died at the scene.

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A scene guard has been at the Princes St East property overnight and a scene examination was expected to continue today, Counties Manukau Police Detective Inspector Chris Barry said.

A post-mortem will be carried out tomorrow.

Armed police at the scene of the shooting this morning. Photo / Michael Craig

Barry said police were still working to establish exactly what happened and appealed for anyone who might have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area to come forward.

The victim's family were assisting investigators with inquiries to establish the circumstances leading up to the death.

"At this stage we are working hard to piece together the facts as we know it so far," Barry said.

"We are also providing support to the victim's family."

Police at the scene of the fatal shooting last night. Photo / Hayden Woodward

A witness at the scene last night said he could see five or six police officers, several carrying firearms.

Ōtāhuhu residents reported hearing a helicopter and sirens just after 10pm.

A mother-of-three who lives on Princes St East told the Herald the shooting was "too close to home" and "of course" she was worried.

Another nearby resident said she saw "a whole lot of police and ambulances fly down the road with their lights on" last night.

She had lived in the neighbourhood for five years and this was the second shooting in the area, she told the Herald.

"It's scary especially considering this is such a nice quiet neighbourhood. There are a lot of young families that live on the street.

"The frequency in which these shootings are happening is disconcerting. We usually have a fair few boy racers screaming up and down the road but that's usually it."

Residents said police had blocked off Princes St at Murdoch St and saw "a bunch" of police and ambulance staff at the scene.

Māngere-Ōtahuhu local board chairperson Lemauga Lydia Sosene said the community had had a "gutsful".

"We are all trying to cope with [alert] level 4, we don't need another shooting and it is of huge concern.

"Police and essential workers are stretched, our community is really tired of this and don't understand, because of level 4 lockdown, people are supposed to stay in their bubbles."

She said there were too many weapons in the community.

"We are tired as a community of the constant incidents to do with firearms and people feeling unsafe."

• Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact police on 105 quoting file number 210822/9740.

Ōtāhuhu shootings

Two people were charged with murder after 21-year-old Samiuela Anania Tupou was shot dead at Seaside Park, at the end of Princes St East, in May 2019.

Three months ago a person was shot dead just under 4km away in Beatty St, and neighbours reported hearing "hysterical screaming".

Police confirmed two men, aged 26 and 28, have been arrested and charged with the murder of Alec Moala, of Papatoetoe.

A man died after a serious assault on Sturges Ave , Ōtāhuhu in August 2019.