Families caught up in patch war
A Hutt Valley street has now had two shootings in two months.
A 39-year-old man was shot in Hanson Grove, Stokes Valley on Saturday night and taken to hospital by ambulance with ‘‘nonlife-threatening’’ injuries, police said.
Police were first informed of the gunfire at 11.56pm. Soon afterwards, they received multiple calls about shots throughout the valley but believed these were actually fireworks.
A man in the area, who Stuff has agreed not to name, said he left the area because ‘‘it’s not safe’’.
‘‘Police are there because gang members from both sides are starting to gather in numbers,’’ he said. ‘‘Police are in the middle.’’
There were ‘‘lots of families in the area’’, and many felt unsafe, he added.
Two sisters who live near the scene said there had been noise from the house during the day, including a lot of shouting and swearing, then a couple of shots.
‘‘I heard a lady saying someone was on the doorstep bleeding.’’
Police said they would maintain a strong presence in the Stokes Valley area while their investigations continued. They are seeking witnesses, who should contact Lower Hutt police.
In early October, another man was wounded in a drive-by shooting in the same Stokes Valley street. Police said the shootings were not related.