Man pleads guilty in drive-by shootings

A South Auckland man has pleaded guilty to participating in four driveby shootings in just five days.

Michael Crawford, 26, appeared before Justice Sally Fitzgerald yesterday in the High Court at Auckland as he admitted targeting houses on one Ōtara street on November 16, 2020, then three other streets on the 20th.

No one was injured, but the charges noted that Crawford knew or ought to have known his actions would put lives in danger.

He also pleaded guilty to being in possession of 71 shotgun cartridges, an “AK-47-like” rifle and material for explosives, as well as to entering a building with a firearm to commit assault and to participating in an organised criminal group.

We know the firearms incidents have caused concern. Superintendent Jill Rogers

The shootings prompted Superintendent Jill Rogers, Counties Manukau District Commander, to deploy extra officers to the area from across Auckland.

“We know the recent firearms incidents in South Auckland have caused concern and worry in the community,” she said at the time.

Charges remain pending against multiple co-defendants.