Gun shop director questioned after man shot

Police were today questioning the director of an Auckland gun shop where a man wielding a machete was shot this morning.

The shooting happened at SAI Guns and Ammo in Penrose at about 10am. A 19-year-old man entered the shop at 553 Great South Road, on the corner with Walls Road, carrying the machete.

One of the people inside shot him in the stomach with a handgun. This is understood to be a director of the shop, aged 33. He was being interviewed this afternoon but has not been arrested.

Police said he was traumatised by the incident.

The Ambulance Service said the 19-year-old had serious injuries. He was taken to Auckland City Hospital where he was conscious on arrival and was undergoing surgery this morning.

Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Scott said police were called to the scene only after reports that a person had been shot inside the shop, where there was only a "small number" of people.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty added: "It would be reasonable to question why he went into the shop with a machete." But she could not say what was behind the incident.

More than a dozen police were at the scene this morning and the shop was cordoned off. Traffic was being diverted in the area.

SAI - Small Arms International - describes itself on its website as "New Zealand's leading gun shop". It lists a wide range of pistols, rifles and shotguns.

- additional reporting NZPA