Police are speaking to five people after a shooting in suburban Auckland this morning - which left a man with serious leg injuries and later saw a house surrounded in West Auckland.
Emergency services received reports about 9.40am that a man had been shot with a firearm at a house on Hutchinson Ave, West Auckland.
The man was driven to a petrol station on nearby Great North Rd, where he was treated by staff until paramedics arrived and transported him to hospital with serious injuries.
“Just after 1pm, police located a vehicle at a Kelston address, which matched a vehicle seen leaving the Hutchinson Ave property this morning,” a police spokesperson said.
“Armed Offenders Squad members entered the Kelston property. Five people located at that property are now assisting police with their inquiries.”
Police officers remain at the property tonight, where a scene examination is being carried out.
“Police would like to acknowledge the disruption this morning’s operation caused,” the spokesperson said.
“Incidents such as this can be alarming and unsettling for those living in the vicinity and police would like to thank residents around the address in Hutchinson Ave for their patience and cooperation.”
Prior to the five people going into police custody, officers surrounded the Kelston house telling those inside to come out and “no one will get shot”.
“Come out with your hands up. Nobody will get shot,” a witness heard police saying on a loudhailer in Laura St, Kelston.
The police Eagle helicopter was circling overhead.
By 3.36pm, the operation started winding up, with police saying a statement would be released later in the afternoon.
Earlier, a local Kelston resident told a reporter at the scene he almost bowled a person running from police this afternoon. Police later told him the person was connected to this afternoon’s incident.
He was driving down Archibald Rd when a youth wearing a white hoodie dashed out in front of him.
In the latest incident, the Armed Offenders Squad had arrived by 2.30pm, with witnesses watching as members standing on the bumper of a black 4WD were driven along Barbary Ave.
A local resident said police stopped a small hatchback outside their property and three people were ordered out of the car.
“What’s going on? It’s crazy,” she said
Another witness told the Herald they also saw the incident, with armed police stopping the vehicle and detaining a man and two women. Police officers then searched the vehicle.
The witness also saw two armed police officers with road spikes - not laid, but ready to be - at another Kelston street, while two more armed officers were parked in the driveway of a home on Daphne St.
There is also police activity in the St Leonards Rd, Laura St and Kelman Rd areas.
Police dogs have also been seen in the area and the Eagle police helicopter is circling above. A St John Ambulance incident support vehicle is at the scene.