Gang fight caught on video
Video has emerged of a large gang brawl in Lower Hutt, confirming a gun was fired in a public park.
The video, provided to Stuff, shows a large group of Mongrel Mob members pursuing Black Power across Delaney Park, in George St in the suburb of Stokes Valley, before a gunshot is heard.
The fight, which residents say involved about 50 gang members, had police searching houses and cars in the area on Sunday afternoon. No arrests were made, no weapons were found, and there were no reported injuries resulting from the fight.
Police now plan to meet with senior gang hierarchy in the hope of quelling a dispute between the gangs, thought to have led to multiple shootings in recent months.
Yesterday, criminal investigation branch officers were searching for evidence at Delaney Park, as well as canvassing nearby residents for any information that would help identify those involved. Inspector James Mckay said police had a ‘‘fairly good’’ idea about what happened.
‘‘We’ve had three incidents over the past four or five months that were gang-related and have involved firearms. This one is possibly connected, as well, which is what we’re getting to the bottom of,’’ he said.
‘‘With these types of incidents, information is not that forthcoming from the people involved, obviously, and also from members of the public who, rightly, are a little bit apprehensive about supplying the information.’’
In December, a firearm was seized after a shooting of a 39-year-old man in a nearby street. Two months earlier, a man was shot in a drive-by shooting in the same street.
Police have previously said the shootings were not related.
In July 2018, a shooting in George St saw a 36-year-old man hospitalised with chest wounds and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. A 39-year-old man was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
While both gangs have members living in George St, all of the incidents involved members from across the Wellington region.
Mckay said patrols of the neighbourhood would be increased to reassure the public.
‘‘I don’t believe there’s wider concern. It is gang-related ... and we are trying to work through with senior gang hierarchy to resolve that dispute so these things don’t happen in the future.’’
Mckay said police were committed to identifying those responsible, and were following positive lines of inquiry.
‘‘We want the people of Stokes Valley to feel safe, and we want them to know that violence and the unlawful use of firearms will not be tolerated.’’
Residents of the Hutt Valley suburb want something done about the violence.
One nearby Stokes Valley resident said gang violence had been a big issue in the area in recent months and residents have had enough.
‘‘Apparently, there were kids around when it was happening.
‘‘My main concern is that an innocent bystander is going to get hurt.’’ He said something needed to be done. ‘‘This is like the third time there has been either guns or a knife fight in the last six months in Stokes Valley, and it’s because Black Power and Mongrel Mob live on the same street. It’s a pretty easy fix. If you get one of them out of there, then it won’t happen.’’
It had got to the point where he and his partner avoided shopping in the area because of the risk of gang violence. ‘‘I won’t go to the local supermarket ... because I’ve been down there before and there have been gang fights, and there’s been blood and broken bottles on the pavement.’’