Emergency services scrambled to Featherston on Saturday afternoon, after reports a gun had been fired at a car as it was driven out of the supermarket car park. Photo: Screenshot / Google
Two men will appear in the Wellington District Court today charged with murder after a shooting in South Wairarapa over the weekend.
A man died on Saturday after he was found in a vehicle with a gunshot wound.
The discovery came following a report of a shot or shots fired at a vehicle as it was driven out of a supermarket in the Wairarapa town of Featherston, sending emergency services rushing to the site, about 4pm that day.
Police are not ruling out further charges against the pair, aged 23 and 25.
It is believed the people were known to each other, but police say they continue to investigate whether others may have been involved.
They say there is no ongoing risk to the public, but there will be a continued police presence in South Wairapapa.
Local MP for Wairapapa, National's Mike Butterick said the deadly shooting was "abhorrent", but the community will pull together.
He said he was "appalled" by the "unacceptable" violence in a busy public place.
Carterton Mayor Ron Mark also described the shooting as brazen.
He told Morning Report it happened near a busy supermarket in Featherston where families were shopping.
"A busy place on a Saturday - with mums, and families, and kids all around the supermarket in that shopping area - cars and going in and out - there to be a couple of thugs and idiots firing off multiple rounds," Mark said.
"It's just unacceptable, totally unacceptable."
Mark added there was "very little sympathy" for people who shoot each other.
"People have had a guts full, they're over it.
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