'Deal to it' comments heard before drive-by shooting in Stokes Valley

Residents of Hanson Grove in Stokes Valley say a large brawl broke out in the street before a drive-by shooting in the early hours of Sunday morning. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

Residents near the scene of a drive-by shooting in Stokes Valley yesterday say partiers began brawling in the street before the shots were fired.

"Angry boys" left the fight saying they were going to "come back with something and deal to it" one woman told the Herald.

The woman was just one of the residents of Hanson Grove who heard screaming, yelling and fighting late on Saturday night and in the early hours of Sunday, before occupants of a passing car shot at and seriously injured a 21-year-old man.

Police were called to Hanson Grove at 2.30am on Sunday after the incident.

The woman said there were "heaps of fights" that evening as someone at a nearby house celebrated a 21st birthday.

"I heard when they left they were angry boys," she said.

That was when she heard someone mention coming back with "something" to "deal to it".

She did not hear or witness the shooting.

A woman at the house the party was held at refused to comment.

She said she was asleep when the shooting happened.

Several nearby residents said they spotted a brawl break out in the street earlier in the evening, with people "tackling" each other. One person estimated more than 10 people were fighting.

Another woman said she and her family did not feel safe in the area, and that there were always police showing up.

Police have not commented on the party or alleged fight.

The incident comes just a few months after another shooting in Stokes Valley, which was the result of a "family harm incident", according to police.

Lower Hutt mayor Ray Wallace, who is in Japan at the moment, said the latest shooting was an "isolated incident and not the norm".

"I am in Stokes Valley often and it has a great community spirit and council's recent investments with Koraunui Stokes Valley hub its having real positive impacts for the community so this is out of character for the majority of Stokes Valley.

Police are currently investigating the shooting incident and have said "there are no threats to public safety".