Police find gun in Rotorua face shooting case

Photo / Simon Baker

Police have found the gun believed to have been used to shoot a man in the face in Rotorua yesterday.

The 45-year-old man was taken to Rotorua Hospital with facial injuries after he was shot at a house in Sunset Rd about 10am.

He was transferred to Waikato Hospital where he underwent surgery last night, and was now in a critical but stable condition.

A 21-year-old man arrested shortly after the shooting appeared in Rotorua District Court this morning charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

Investigation head Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper said the man was likely to face more serious charges.

The firearm was not found on the man when he was taken into custody.

Police yesterday searched for the weapon in an area of bush in the suburb of Pukehangi. They found the firearm they believe was used in the shooting this afternoon.

Mr Loper said yesterday that an argument was believed to have taken place but the circumstances of what happened were not clear.

Four adults and three children were at the house at the time of the shooting, while nearby Sunset Primary School was temporarily locked down while the armed offenders squad cordoned off the area.

- NZPA