Three people were taken into custody following a firearms incident in Mt Wellington last night, Auckland police say.
At about 8.40pm on Thursday, there was an altercation between two groups of people outside a restaurant on Lunn Avenue before the parties separated and got into two vehicles.
Detective inspector Glenn Baldwin, of Auckland City Police CIB, says the occupants in one vehicle allegedly discharged a firearm towards the other vehicle.
“Both vehicles fled immediately after, however, our staff were in the area and signalled one to stop.
“The other vehicle has continued on towards Mt Wellington and was tracked by the police helicopter heading towards Māngere.”
Baldwin says the Police Eagle helicopter provided commentary as the vehicle pulled into a property on Mountain Rd, Māngere Bridge, where the occupants ran through properties and got into another vehicle.
“The offenders then continued onto the South-Western Motorway towards Manurewa and officers attempted to stop it on Puhinui Road, however, it failed to stop.
“A pursuit ensued towards a Burundi Avenue address where two people were arrested, both with gang links.”
Baldwin says a sawn-off shotgun was also located in the vehicle.
“While officers were at the scene another vehicle drove through police cordons and failed to stop when signalled so that driver was also arrested.”
She was the partner of one of the arrested men, Baldwin says.
“We know incidents like this are distressing for the wider community, so these swift arrests by our diligent staff are really pleasing and significant to ongoing public safety.”
The police investigation is continuing and further arrests are not excluded, he says.
A 30-year-old man is due to appear in the Auckland District Court today Friday charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, failing to stop, and intent to cause grievous bodily harm with a firearm.
Baldwin says there are no known links between a later firearms incident in neighbouring Counties Manukau district, at Highland Park (link to story below).
“We are keeping an open mind at this very early stage,” he says.
