Blood, shotgun shells and six injured in early hours shooting in Auckland's Glen Innes

Thursday, 24 March 2022

Six people have been injured, two seriously, in a shooting in Glen Innes overnight

A family gathering celebrating a 21st birthday was cut short by a hail of gunfire in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Six people were injured, two seriously, in a shooting at a house in Glen Innes, east Auckland.

Police arrived at Heatherbank St about 2.55am on Thursday, where a “number of shotgun rounds” had been fired.

Armed police are at a house in Glen Innes after a shooting left six people injured.

Five people were rushed to Auckland City Hospital and one person was treated at the scene.

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The open garage in Heatherbank St, where armed guards are stationed in the driveway.

Two people remained in serious condition on Thursday afternoon. They would undergo surgery in the coming days, police said.

Three other people were receiving treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

Police had not arrested anybody in relation to the shooting as of 2pm Thursday. However, a 21-year-old man seen fleeing the property was found in possession of a large quantity of cannabis, they said.

He had since been charged with possession of cannabis for supply.

He would appear in Auckland District Court later this month.

“As part of this Police are still working to ascertain whether the firearms incident and discovery of the cannabis are connected,” Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Salton said.

“Our focus is on establishing the facts and we would remind people that speculation is not helpful to the overall enquiry.”

Salton said he wanted to reassure the Glen Innes community police would maintain a presence in the area over the coming days.

A blood-soaked sheet on the floor of a garage in Heatherbank St.

He said he was aware there would be people who know those involved, and urged them to come forward and speak to police.

Several neighbours said family members were holding 21st birthday celebrations when the shooting happened.

Brian Healey, who lives directly behind the property involved, jumped to his feet on hearing gunfire. He said he heard at least “three or four bangs” about 2am.

“It was just so loud, the night was really calm before and the blasts shocked me. I opened the curtains and saw the light was on in the garage. I could hear muffled voices,” he said.

Shotgun shells on the driveway at the Heatherbank St address.

Healey said he knew the family in Heatherbank St well and was shocked to hear something like this could happen next door.

“They're good mates, really nice people.

“They'll have the odd drink there, but they are very respectful, never too noisy, and they keep the music turned down at night,” he said.

“I really hope they are safe.”

Another neighbour, Vai Toese, said the noise woke up her children.

“I was still up at the time and saw a white car drive down the road, stop, and then I heard bangs.

“The kids were still asleep. They awoke and were all scared – there were five or six shots.”

Toese has four boys. The youngest is 3 months old.

Neighbours said family members were gathered for a 21st birthday celebration.

“I ran to the kids, I didn’t know what was going on.

“I’m still afraid to leave the house.”

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward councillor Josephine Bartley said she’d been told by police the shooting was “random” and the house had a history of drinking and fights.

“When we’ve done community patrols down Heatherbank, we’ve had instances where people have been approached aggressively,” Bartley said.

“We have 11 off-licences in the premises. I’m convinced alcohol plays a part in the violence we see on the streets in Glen Innes. We’re working with the community to try and make it better.”

A scene examination would also take place.

By 8am on Thursday, two armed police officers were standing guard outside a home in Heatherbank St, a quiet residential street 650 metres from Glen Innes police station.

Local MP Simon O’Connor was informed by Stuff of the incident, and was shocked to hear of the news.

“I obviously had no idea, it’s absolutely awful. Very sadly, it’s an example of the ongoing crime in the district that we have here. It needs to be lessened,” he said.

People with information or who witnessed any suspicious activity are asked to call 105 quoting the file number 220324/7219.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said police found cannabis at the house. It was found near the house, in the possession of a man who was seen fleeing the property. Updated 3pm, March 24, 2022.