Auckland couple's violent death sparks police probe

Family members comfort each other after the shootings. Picture / Greg Bowker

Police are continuing their investigation into the violent deaths of a man and woman inside a garage at a West Auckland property.

It is understood the couple were a brother, aged 41, and his sister, aged 33, and their bodies were found with a gun.

Police confirmed this morning that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case.

Officers and forensic experts returned to the address this morning to carry out a detailed examination of the internal area of the garage and the property.

The bodies of the man and woman are to be taken to the mortuary this afternoon for a post mortem examination to determine the cause of death. A formal identification will also be made.

A police spokesman said last night that a firearm was found at the scene. A family member who left the house said the deceased were brother and sister but he would not comment further.

Police were called to the Harrington Rd, Henderson, address at 4.50pm but did not cordon off the property. A police photographer later spent time inside a double garage at the rear of the property, along with forensic staff and detectives.

Neighbours poured out into the street and looked stunned as police launched an investigation at the home of a family who have lived in the street for at least 30 years.

Residents said they were a quiet, church-going Samoan family that included a woman aged in her 90s, her daughter, who works as a prison officer, and a granddaughter.

A young man was also living at the address, they said.

Almost a dozen neighbours who gathered in the street said they had not heard any shots.

"It's pretty sad and it's quite amazing no one heard any shots," said one woman, who did not want to be identified.

"It's very sad especially when it starts getting a bit too close to home," said another neighbour. "Every week it's happening and it's getting worse."

Neighbours were still reeling from a shooting in another West Auckland suburb, Glen Eden, on Tuesday. Two men suffered facial injuries and three people have since been arrested.