Four people have been arrested after two people were injured – one seriously – when shots were allegedly fired at a vehicle in Gisborne overnight.
Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk said police were called to Taruheru Cres in Mangapapa at around 11.45pm to reports of several shots fired towards a house from a car.
“The occupants of the same car then fired one or two shots at an occupied vehicle in Valley Rd, Mangapapa.”
Two people in the occupied vehicle were injured – one seriously.
Police spotted the car on Lytton Rd and signalled the driver to stop, but they failed to do so and were pursued through Elgin until the vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Awapuni Rd.
The four occupants of the car – males aged 15, 16, 26 and 28 – were charged with discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
A firearm and other items thrown from the car as they attempted to evade police were seized.
Further charges were likely as the investigation continued, Kirk said, adding that his message to all involved is that this kind of offending “has to stop”.
“We could very easily have been dealing with one or more fatalities.”
The group will appear in the Gisborne District Court tomorrow.
St John has been contacted for comment.
