Day of violence
A day of gang warfare in Napier ended with a shotgun blast scarring the wall of a medical centre.
The incident on Sunday evening followed a series of violent encounters throughout the day which included a gang member being struck by a car, and another being stabbed. Police have increased their presence as tensions among the city’s gangs become increasingly unstable.
Parts of the Napier Health Centre in Wellesley St were cordoned off yesterday morning – a spent casing and a peppered wall the remains of Sunday’s violence.
A witness told Stuff they saw a group of Black Power gang members outside the centre.
The group began shouting before a shot was fired at a car which the witness believed contained Mongrel Mob members.
Two cars were seen driving away at speed afterwards.
Detective Inspector Mike Foster said the incident followed a gang member going to the medical centre with a non-life-threatening stab wound. Police were called to the facility shortly after when a shot was fired towards a number of gang members gathered outside, he said. Those involved had left the scene by the time police arrived.
The shooting is understood to be the culmination of several gangrelated incidents across the city on Sunday.
Earlier in the day police responded to a group of men fighting at Anderson Park. A person was injured and taken to hospital. About 6.10pm a gang member was struck by a car in Geddis Ave and suffered minor leg injuries.
Foster said police took the potential use of firearms and other weapons seriously and were working to identify those involved.
Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed any of the incidents or who could otherwise assist with inquiries.
Black Power member and community advocate Denis O’Reilly said things were ‘‘unsettled’’ within gangs due to their growth in numbers.
‘‘You have also got the methamphetamine problem and a lot of young members are joining. There are new structures within the gangs and older members are not as effective as they once were years ago. The newer members have not experienced the consequences of their behaviour.’’
O’Reilly said more support networks were needed to help contain gang tension and prevent such incidents. ‘‘It would enable communities to sort out this stuff before it happens. We don’t have the resources any more and can’t solely rely on the police to help sort it out.’’
Napier mayor Kirsten Wise said the city council was offering support to the police.
‘‘We will be supporting the police and other community agencies as they work to resolve these gang related incidents.’’
Ambassador for Hastings and Flaxmere councillor Henare O’Keefe said the Hawke’s Bay community was working towards solutions to prevent such incidents from happening but it was not something ‘‘that would happen overnight’’. ‘‘Everyone needs to be loved. When young people join the gangs, a void is being filled, so we must find out what that void is so the community is able to help.’’
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board spokeswoman Anna Kirk said police stayed at the medical centre overnight. No staff were harmed, nor had anyone presented to the emergency department following the episode, Kirk said.