A family reunion celebrating its 21st birthday was cut off by a snowstorm in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Six people were injured, two seriously, in a shooting at a house in Glen Innes, East Auckland.
Police arrived at Heatherbank St around 2.55am on Thursday, where a “number of rounds of gunfire” was fired.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Armed police have injured six people in a house in Glen Innes after a shooting.
Five people were taken to Auckland City Hospital and one person was treated on the spot.
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Two people were in critical condition on Thursday afternoon. They would be operated on in the next few days, police said.
Three other people received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
The police have not arrested any person in connection with the shooting until 2pm on Thursday. However, a 21-year-old man who escaped from the property was found in possession of a large quantity of cannabis, they said.
He has since been charged with possession of cannabis for supply.
He is due to appear in Auckland District Court later this month.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
The open garage at Heatherbank St, where armed guards are stationed in the driveway.
“As part of this, police are still working to verify whether the firearms incident is linked to the discovery of cannabis,” said Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Salton.
“Our focus is on establishing the facts and we would like to remind people that speculation is not helpful to the general investigation.”
Salton said he wanted to reassure Glen Innes community police to maintain a presence in the region in the coming days.
He said he was aware that there were people who knew those affected, and asked them to come forward and talk to the police.
Some neighbors said family members were celebrating 21st birthday celebrations when the shooting happened.
Brian Healey, who lives directly behind the property involved, jumped to his feet when he heard the shots. He said he heard at least “three or four bangs” over 2 p.m.
“It was just so loud, the night before was really quiet and the explosions shocked me. I opened the curtains and saw the light in the garage. I could hear muffled voices,” he said.
Healey said he knew the family in Heatherbank St well and was shocked to hear that something like this could happen next door.
“They are good friends, really nice people.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
A bloody leaf on the floor of a garage in Heatherbank St.
“They will have the weird drinks there, but they are very respectful, never too loud, and they keep the music down at night,” he said.
“I really hope they are safe.”
Another neighbor, Vai Toese, said the noise aroused her children.
“I was still up at the time and saw a white car driving down the road, stopping, and then I heard bangs.
“The children were still asleep. They woke up and were all scared – there were five or six shots.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Shotgun shells on the road at Heatherbank St address.
Toese has four sons. The youngest is 3 months old.
“I ran to the children, I did not know what was going on.
“I’m still afraid to leave the house.”
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Ward councilor Josephine Bartley said she was told by police that the shooting was “random” and the house had a history of drinking and fighting.
“When we did community patrols down Heatherbank, we had cases where people were viewed aggressively,” Bartley said.
“We have 11 off-licenses in the premises. I’m convinced that alcohol plays a part in the violence we see on the streets of Glen Innes. We are working with the community to try to make it better.
A scene investigation would also take place.
At around 8pm on Thursday, two armed police officers were standing outside a home on Heatherbank St, a quiet residential street 650 meters from the Glen Innes Police Department.
Local MP Simon O’Connor was informed of living room of the incident, and was shocked to hear of the news.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Neighbors said family members gathered for a 21st birthday party.
“I obviously had no idea, it’s absolutely horrible. Very sad it’s an example of the current crime in the area that we have here. It needs to be reduced,” he said.
People with information or who have seen a suspicious activity are asked to call 105 with the file number 220324/7219.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said police found cannabis in the house. It was found next to the house, owned by a man who was seen fleeing the property. Updated 24/03/2020 15:00
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