A traumatised mother has spoken of her horror after her two young children witnessed a fatal daylight gang shootout in an Auckland reserve from their living room window.
The Point England resident told the Herald her children were watching television when gunshots rang out.
“They saw two men firing guns at each.”
The children thought it was just men playing games with fake guns in Taurima Reserve, she recalled.
Two people were shot during the incident with one later dying in hospital.
Police have described it as “reckless violence” in community spaces and is “deplorable” to authorities and the public.
The resident said she has been left “traumatised” and was on edge since the incident.
“That evening I had to tell the children what they saw was not a game, that it was real life. The reserve has a playground, kids go there.
“As a parent we are insecure. I am just grateful we were not harmed in any way.”
Earlier today, an elderly man who lives close to Taurima Reserve in Point England told the Herald he heard what sounded like a shootout on Saturday afternoon.
“Two guns, with one gun going, ‘crack crack crack’.
“About six cracks, and I heard a ‘boom’ it was a gunshot,” he said. “There was a large group there, about three or four cars full. They sped off out of Taurima Ave right after.”
Police said they were called to Taurima Reserve at 2.40pm following several reports of disorder and sounds of gunshots. A critically injured man took himself to Auckland Hospital with gunshot wounds but later died.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said the police homicide investigation team had been looking into the circumstances of how the incident at Taurima Reserve unfolded.
“What we know is that an altercation took place at the reserve between two groups resulting in shots being discharged.
“This reckless violence especially, when it happens in public spaces, is deplorable to police and the public. Our team is working with determination in this investigation to identify the parties involved.
“Part of our investigation is focused on reviewing CCTV from the area, which is proving beneficial to our inquiries.”
Baldwin said police would be looking to make arrests at the earliest opportunity.
“We know a number of men assembled near both ends of Taurima Reserve, prior to the incident on Saturday afternoon, and shortly afterwards a number of vehicles fled the area after shots were fired,” he said.
“Police are aware that people in the community will have footage of the incident, either on CCTV or their phones, and this is a valuable way for members of the community to assist us to hold people to account.”
Baldwin said a post-mortem examination was expected to be carried out today for the man who died.
“As part of this process, formal identification will also be carried out. Until then we are not in a position to confirm further details around the man.”
Police had spoken with a number of people so far, but were asking anyone with information or CCTV footage to get in contact with them.
Armed police officers also spent Saturday night guarding Middlemore Hospital after an injured man arrived at the Emergency Department with a gunshot wound.
Police are investigating whether the person at Middlemore Hospital with gunshot wounds is linked to the Point England shooting.
While investigations were under way the Point England community would notice a greater police presence, a spokesperson said.
“We would like to reassure people that this was an isolated incident, with no ongoing risk believed to be posed to the wider public.”
Meanwhile, a manhunt continues for “dangerous” 24-year-old man Darius Talagi and a homicide investigation has been launched after Sione Tuuholoaki died in hospital from his wounds after a shooting on Queen St last Thursday night.
Two weeks ago, ten people were wounded and three died, including gunman 24-year-old Matu Tangi Matua Reid, in a mass shooting at a construction site in downtown Auckland.
Akula Sharma is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2022. She has previously worked at the Gisborne Herald.
Police have instructed holidaymakers to stay out of the water.