Armed cops block off Fry St
A male has been taken to hospital with gunshot wounds after an incident in Motueka.
Police at the scene yesterday said they were responding to a firearms incident.
St John Ambulance spokesman Gerard Campbell said one person with moderate to minor injuries was flown to Nelson Hospital.
Yesterday, Motueka Hotel publican Vincent Sibbald said: ‘‘Somebody was running around on Fry St with a gun. The armed offenders squad are there, but there are police cars leaving now as we are speaking. At one stage they were thinking about telling people to stay inside.’’
At the height of the incident there were about a dozen police cars and an ambulance.
‘‘It was all happening,’’ Sibbald said. ‘‘Somebody’s had a bad day, but we’re all safe.’’
Nelson Bays area commander Inspector Paul Borrell said Nelson and Motueka police had been attending a firearms-related event in Motueka that occurred shortly after 1pm yesterday.
‘‘One male has been injured as a result and is currently receiving medical attention,’’ he said yesterday.
Police were searching for another male believed to have been involved and who was last seen leaving in a vehicle from the Fry St area.
‘‘Police are working to determine the full circumstances of what has occurred and believe those involved in this incident may be known to each other,’’ Borrell said.
All police attending the incident were temporarily armed, he said.
The whole of Fry St was blocked off at 2.10pm. An armed police officer was visible at one end and several police cars and a St John vehicle was at the other end.
Police emergency tape could be seen across several driveways at the end of Fry St near the intersection with Wilkie St.
Police asked people to leave the scene as they were still searching for someone believed to be involved in the incident.
Borrell said police were following a strong line of enquiry and officers would remain armed in the short term.