A man understood to be struggling to save his son from drugs and mental issues is now facing possible charges over the fatal shooting of his boy yesterday at their home near Mohaka in Northern Hawke's Bay.
Details of the tragedy started to unfold in a shocked community after the shooting which happened at a property off Mohaka Township Rd, about 35km southwest of Wairoa, in a valley overlooked by the sites of Mohaka School and Waipapa-A-Iwi Marae and 200-300 metres west of the now long-empty site of the former Mohaka Hotel.
Police received a call just before 11am, understood to have been from the 62-year-old father, and went to the address where they found a 43-year-old man dead from a gunshot wound.
The 62-year-old was arrested and taken to Wairoa Police Station, and police said they were not seeking anyone else in relation to the death.
But a police headquarters media officer last night did not have confirmation of any charges, and it was understood the man had not yet appeared in court.