Wellington shooting victim stable

BY MICHAEL FOX, KELLY BURNS

The victim of a shooting in Stokes Valley is in a stable condition in Wellington Hospital.

A manhunt began last night after a group stormed into an Amundsen Grove, Stokes Valley, home, shot one man and bashed a woman with a gun.

Three teenagers were in the home getting ready for bed.

The woman has since been discharged from Hutt Hospital.

Police were still searching for four men responsible for the attack this evening.

Margaret Remuera was in the kitchen with her family when she heard the commotion across the street about 9.40pm.

''All we heard was a lot of yelling and screaming, then two gun shots fired and then the car took off.''

She said an incident like this was unusual for this street.

''You could normally hear a pin drop.''

The gunshots rang out straight after the argument, and were fired within split seconds of each other, she said.

A car took off in a big hurry following the shooting.

She said she heard the daughter inside the home, believed to be around age 18, yelling above everyone else.

By the time she went outside the offenders had already fled, she said.

There was much speculation in the street this morning.

One man suggested the shooting was a case of mistaken identity, and that the shooters were looking for someone who had recently had a run-in with the Mongrel Mob gang.

The possibility of mistaken identity was also touched on by Inspector Mike Coleman, who said that the home invasion was premeditated.

''It was obviously a planned attack. It's possible they have mistaken the address and got the wrong people.''

The woman that was attacked in her home is believed to be in her 50s.

She had lived at the property for around four years and a neighbour this morning described her as a friendly woman.

The cul-de-sac where the shooting happened was been cordoned off. There was broken glass outside the property.

Invasion

The intruders kicked in the door and fired at least two shots in the house, striking the male victim in the leg.

It's understood at least two firearms were used in the home invasion.

The victim's female partner was struck over the head with the gun butt, police said.

The man, 37, suffered serious gunshot injuries to his leg.

He was flown by Westpac rescue helicopter to Wellington Hospital after the armed invasion.

The woman, 44, was able to call for an ambulance, as did neighbours who heard the shots.

She was taken to Hutt Hospital with moderate head injuries.

The victims' car was also shot at and damaged.

Lower Hutt police are now seeking sightings of a red or maroon Mazda Astina, believed to be linked to the attack.

The vehicle was stolen from the lower level of the Westpac Stadium car park, in Wellington.

It was found shortly after the shooting on fire in the Taita Bowling Club carpark.

After the shooting, police put Stokes Valley in lockdown, preventing anyone from entering the suburb. A helicopter circled overhead.

- © Fairfax NZ News