Tair¨¡whiti Police are investigating a series of gang-related firearms events overnight.
Police received several calls from members of the public reporting a series of gunshots in the Stout Street/Taruheru Crescent area around 9:45pm last night.
Two vehicles of interest were seen, and a male in his 20s received a gunshot wound to the leg.
A short time later, several more calls came into Police reporting shots being fired towards a house on Rimu Street from a vehicle, and a firearm was seen.
Police believe the incidents are gang-related.
Tair¨¡whiti Area Commander Inspector Sam Aberahama says teams of investigators are out today doing scene examinations, and reassurance patrolling is continuing.
¡°We would like to thank the numerous people who called in to Police reporting these incidents, as the sooner we know, the quicker we can respond and help prevent further harm,¡± he says.
¡°Those people who called us have helped with that and I am hugely appreciative.
¡°We also have one of the vehicles of interest in our possession, and are following further lines of inquiry to piece together what happened.¡±
Inspector Aberahama has a simple message for Gisborne locals.
¡°If you see any suspicious or unsafe activity, please call us on 111 straight away. Your call could be the key we need to prevent harm from occurring in our community.¡±
¡°Police are working incredibly hard to keep people safe, but the community coming together and letting us know is also key,¡± he says.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre