Whakatane attempted murder accused in court

A Bay of Plenty man appeared in Whakatane District Court today charged with attempted murder following a shooting in Whakatane on Monday.

The 22-year-old man from Ruatoki, about 23km south of Whakatane, was remanded in custody until next week, Constable Barry Shiels said today.

A man was shot in the legs in a street on Monday night, 48 hours after Mongrel Mob gang associate 20-year-old Te Rangi Tait Carroll was stabbed to death on Whakatane's main street early on Saturday.

Mr Shiels said both inquiries were continuing.

"There's a lot of people to interview ... You've got to locate them all, interview them and get the big picture of what's going on and that's what we're doing at the moment."

Last night had been quiet and Mr Shiels said the incidents were unusual.

"There's been a whole lot of rumours that there's going to be all sorts of problems and people have been very apprehensive ... but in actual fact it's all very quiet and it's situation normal in Whakatane.

"It's not the kind of carry-on we have in Whakatane."

However, police have had a higher presence to keep the rival Black Power and Mongrel Mob gangs apart.

Mr Carroll, a Mongrel Mob associate, was killed after he and a patched gang member were confronted by several members of the Black Power gang. A brawl involving around 30 gang members followed.

Police have yet to make an arrest for the killing but several people have appeared in court on other charges stemming from the inquiry.

- NZPA