KEY POINTS:
Police who arrested an 18-year-old man over the shooting of west Auckland dairy owner Xu Mei Ying on Saturday are focusing on finding the driver of the getaway car.
The 18-year-old was arrested about 1am today following a massive public response to security camera footage released yesterday of the shooting at Lynnray Dairy on Rua Rd, New Lynn, 14km from downtown Auckland.
The unemployed labourer from Henderson faces charges of wounding with intent to injure, unlawful possession of a firearm, assault with intent to rob and commission of a crime with a firearm.
Detective Senior Sergeant Stan Brown said the gunman left the dairy in a waiting vehicle and police were now searching for the getaway driver.
The vehicle was described as a Ford or Mazda hatchback, possibly a 1980s model, and light blue in colour.
It travelled on West Coast Road before heading in the direction of Glen Eden about 2.30pm on Saturday.
"This co-offender is the subject of our ongoing enquiries into this incident," Mr Brown said.
Mr Brown said Ms Ying, 46, was recovering well from the shooting.
Hit in the upper left arm, she had surgery at North Shore Hospital yesterday and was now recovering at home.
Mr Brown praised the public for their quick response to the appeal for information on the gunman.
"Within hours of news broadcasts and print media publication we received several calls indicating the identity and whereabouts of our offender and subsequently he was arrested at 1am this morning," Mr Brown said.
"The early response and support given to the police from all sectors of the media and the general public on this occasion has been just outstanding.
"It demonstrates an existing uniformity of purpose across the entire public spectrum without which this early arrest could not have been achieved.
"It was in the interests of public safety that this offender was caught - and that he was caught fast."
The arrested man was due to appear in Waitakere District Court today.
- NZPA
