Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin called the August 5 shooting of Charles Pongi (inset) 'an appalling display of violence by gang members'. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin called the August 5 shooting of Charles Pongi (inset) 'an appalling display of violence by gang members'. Photo / Hayden Woodward
More than a month after 32-year-old Head Hunter Charles Pongi was shot and killed in Point England, police have launched an online portal for video footage and information.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin called the August 5 incident “an appalling display of violence by gang members”.
“Detectives are painstakinglyworking through a significant amount of material that has been gathered in the investigation so far, and we are making good progress,” Baldwin said.
He said police needed the community’s help to find all those involved in the shootout at Taurima Reserve.
A family was left traumatised after two young children witnessed a gang shootout on Taurima Ave, Point England. Photo / Jason Oxenham
“There are people in the community that have direct knowledge of the individuals that are involved, and I urge them to do the right thing,” he said.
“Contact the Police and nominate suspects, albeit anonymously.”
Photographs and video footage can be uploaded to the police’s new online portal. Information can also be provided anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111, or 105, and quote file number 230805/0100.
Police arrested a 28-year-old man three days after the incident, on August 8, after searching a Glen Innes property.
Police gather in force outside the Head Hunters pad in Ellerslie before the funeral of Charles Pongi. Photo / NZME
Pongi took himself to hospital after the shooting, and another man - believed to be a patched Rebels motorcycle gang member - took himself to Middlemore Hospital for a gunshot wound the same day.
At least 20 shots were fired at the reserve.
Armed police were seen standing guard outside the hospital following his admission.
Baldwin earlier called the shooting “reckless violence”.
Members of the Headhunters gather for the funeral of Charles Pongi on August 19. Photo / NZME
“[It] is deplorable to police and the public,” he said.
Today, Baldwin said police were committed to finding all those involved and holding them to account.
The Head Hunters motorcycle club gathered to pay respects to Pongi on August 19, and police turned out in force to keep the peace.
At least 25 officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside the Head Hunters’ pad in Ellerslie, as mourning gang members gathered before riding their motorcycles in convoy for a service at a church in Ōnehunga.
