Four due in court after fatal Nelson shooting

Branford Park, Nelson

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Four people have been arrested after a man was shot dead in Nelson on Saturday.

Nelson Armed Offenders Squad members stormed an address in Richmond to make the arrests.

Detective Inspector John Winter said a fifth man was being sought, along with two vehicles.

Police knew who he was, and Mr Winter hoped he would contact them.

The four who had been arrested would appear in the Nelson District Court on a variety of charges on Monday, he said.

The main focus for police today was a forensic examination of the scene near the Dennes Hole picnic spot at Bradford Park in the Maitai Valley.

The body was left at the scene overnight.

Police say it appears two groups of youths had a confrontation in Nelson's Brandford Park. One associate of the deceased suffered moderate head injuries and was being treated at Nelson Hospital.

Mr Winter said police were keen to speak to witnesses who were either at Branford Park and had not yet been spoken to, or who had relevant information to pass on.

Mr Winter said that police were aware of the background to the confrontation, which involved a woman who was known to both groups. Police understood there had been a level of tension over the past few months that
was escalating in intensity.

Earlier, police armed with rifles cordoned off the scene of the shooting, which is just before a bridge at Dennies Hole, up Maitai Valley Rd.

They kept the scene under guard throughout the night.

Police were continuing to examine the scene of the shooting today.

Sgt Shane Miles told the Nelson Mail that police had received a call that a man had been shot in the chest in Branford Park.

When police arrived they found a 22-year-old man with an apparent gunshot injury. A doctor who was passing by confirmed the man was dead.

Sgt Miles said there were several eyewitnesses at the scene.

A witness told the Nelson Mail she had heard a shot shortly before 6pm. She said she had heard screaming and fighting beforehand.

A baseball bat and broken glass were at the scene and being examined by forensic experts today.

-with Stuff.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News