Three suspects remain at large as police hunt for dark blue car in relation to Otara shooting

Police are looking for a dark blue car following a shooting in Otara, South Auckland.

Levaula Amosa and two friends - one aged 16 and another 14 - were taken to Middlemore Hospital after a drive-by shooting at the intersection of Kudu Rd and Preston Rd in Otara about 7pm last night.

One of the boys remained in hospital tonight, where he was being treated for gunshot wounds after being fired at with a shotgun.

Three people believed to be in the car that the gunshots were fired from, remained at large this evening.

Detective Sergeant Len Leleni from Counties Manukau East CIB told NZME police were on the hunt for a dark blue four-door Nissan or Mitsubishi with standard wheels.

He said police were following lines of inquiry but still had some ground to cover, and wanted to hear from anyone who has information about the shooting and confrontation that happened shortly before.

"I am confident we will be speaking to those responsible within the short term," he said.

While police could not confirm what led to the confrontation or shooting, Leleni said he could not discount the possibility of the incident being gang related.

Leleni said there continued to be a high police presence in the area this evening however, he was confident the shooting was an "isolated incident".

Police have already spoken to a number of people who are assisting them with their inquiries and were reviewing CCTV footage.

Shooting victim Levaula Amosa told the Herald he was walking near his home with his two friends when a car containing three men pulled up bedside them last night.

"They wanted to fight us. They were swearing at us. They asked me for a fight."

Amosa initially agreed to the fight and said he'd meet the driver at the dairy. But then the boys continued on their way home.

The car pulled up next to them again.

"They came back and pulled the gun out. I thought it was a fake. That's why I didn't run."

Amosa approached the car and that's when one of the men started shooting.

The three boys were shocked and didn't have time to react. After the shots rang out the car sped off and the victims ran home.

The boys were bleeding. A 16-year-old 16, had bloody wounds from the shotgun cartridge sprayed across his cheek and neck.

A 14-year-old had similar wounds over his arm. Amosa had a small injury to a finger.

Amosa hoped police would catch the men. He wants the offenders to know that they "shouldn't bring a gun to a fistfight".

He said the car occupants were Tongan and from the 36 and Killer Beez gangs.

Amosa, who is Samoan, said there was rivalry between Samoans and Tongans in the area.

Anyone with information about the shooting or prior altercation is encouraged to contact their local police station.