KEY POINTS:
A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection to a shooting in Bay of Plenty yesterday.
Senior Sergeant Wayne Mills of Tauranga police said the man was arrested about 12.30pm after presenting himself to police.
He was charged after allegedly shooting at an acquaintance in Papamoa, about 20km southeast of Tauranga, about 9.15pm yesterday. The 32-year-old man was not hit.
Mr Mills said the 39-year-old was charged with possession of a pistol, possessing cannabis and cultivating cannabis. More charges could follow.
Police earlier said it was lucky no bystanders were injured during the incident.
The 32-year-old target was standing just metres from his wife and children in his front yard on Doncaster Drive.
Detective Alan Kingsbury of Tauranga CIB told the Bay of Plenty Times many neighbours had also been outside and there had been a very real possibility of someone being shot by a stray bullet.
"Prior to that (the shooting) happening there was some activity with a vehicle speeding around, so some people had come out to see what the commotion was," he said.
He said the gun and vehicle believed to have been used were found at an associate's address a block away.
"We have recovered a cut down .22 rifle which is likely to be the firearm that was used," he said.
Senior Sergeant Wayne Mills said the armed offenders squad was called to the address after the shooting, about 15 minutes after they had been involved in a short scuffle involving pushing and shoving.
"They are known to each other. They're not friends ... they're acquaintances," Mr Mills said.
Armed police cordoned off the road until 2pm and searched both the alleged shooter's home address and the associate's address, where the vehicle and firearm were found.
The man who was shot at was upset and had been referred to Victim Support, Mr Mills said.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES with NZPA
