Police at the scene on Monday. Photo: SAMUEL RILLSTONE / RNZ
A resident at an apartment complex in Wellington heard fighting and running footsteps followed by a loud bang outside his fourth floor unit yesterday.
Police are investigating a shooting at the Pukehīnau Flats on Brooklyn Rd about 3.30pm on Sunday.
A person who was shot at - but not hit - fell from a balcony and was taken to hospital with moderate injuries.
Police said the person was specifically targeted and they were still searching for the offender.
Several officers were door-knocking and speaking to residents at the community housing complex on Monday afternoon.
A fourth floor resident told RNZ he heard a commotion outside his door yesterday afternoon.
"No one saw exactly what happened - who I've spoken to - [but] there was a helluva bang.
"I'd heard running, and it had to be a big guy - really big, because they were big footsteps, you could hear the boom, boom, boom."
He said he had also heard raised voices, yelling abuse.
He said he did not want to get too close in case "someone still had a firearm", but said from his end of the balcony saw a couple of ambulances arriving.
"If they've jumped off outside here - because it sounded like it was this floor - man, that's still a long way down.
"I thought he'd be bloody near dead.
"They got him onto a stretcher and I gather he landed on his legs, but no matter how well you've done it, you're going to really have bad legs."
Another resident said he was still a bit shaken up after poking his head outside yesterday to see what was going on, and seeing armed police who yelled to get back inside.
A neighbour a couple of floors above said the violence was concerning, and that police had looked inside his apartment and a neighbour's yesterday.
Detective Senior Sergeant Lee Underhill earlier confirmed a shotgun was fired.
"While nobody was hit, we believe the incident targeted a specific individual, who suffered moderate injuries fleeing to safety," she said.
The apartment building. Photo: SAMUEL RILLSTONE / RNZ
"It is concerning that an offender has discharged a firearm in a highly populated apartment building and we are aggressively pursuing every lead in order to locate the offender."
There would be more officers in the area to reassure the community, she said.
Community housing organisation Te Toi Mahana confirmed the shot was fired at its Pukehīnau Flats.
Chief executive Jonathan Manns said it was cooperating with police.
"We understand that no Te Toi Mahana tenants or staff were involved," he said.
"The situation is under control and there is no increased danger to tenants or the public at this time."
Underhill urged anyone with information to contact police.
Police at the flats on Monday. Photo: SAMUEL RILLSTONE / RNZ
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