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Christchurch shootings: Police raid property after homes targeted

Author
NZ Herald ,
Publish Date
Wed, 14 Dec 2022, 8:48AM
Police raid a property in Wigram in relation to a series of targeted shootings. Photo / George Heard
Police raid a property in Wigram in relation to a series of targeted shootings. Photo / George Heard

Christchurch shootings: Police raid property after homes targeted

Author
NZ Herald ,
Publish Date
Wed, 14 Dec 2022, 8:48AM

Police have raided a property in relation to a series of targeted shootings in Christchurch.

Three homes were shot at, one twice, over the weekend.

Police earlier said they believed the incidents were linked. In one case, a property was wrongly targeted.

On Wednesday morning officers raided a property in Wigram. Members of the Armed Offenders Squad could be seen outside the address.

It’s understood the raid is connected to the shootings.

It's believed a gang was behind the shootings. Photo / George Heard

It's believed a gang was behind the shootings. Photo / George Heard

The Herald understands the shootings are related to a man recently released from prison. It’s believed a gang was behind the shootings.

The first shooting occurred at a home on Hammond Pl, Spreydon followed by another on Gayhurst Rd in Dallington about 10.30pm on Friday.

On Saturday the Hammond Pl property was targeted again, as well as a home on Broadbent St, Riccarton between 10.30 and 11pm.

Detective Senior Sergeant Damon Wells earlier said no one was injured in the incidents.

A house on Hammond Place which was targeted twice. Photo / NZME

A house on Hammond Place which was targeted twice. Photo / NZME

“We would like to send a clear message to the people responsible for this behaviour - we won’t tolerate this level of violence in our communities.

“We are committed to finding these offenders and holding them to account by putting them before the courts.”

The Saturday night shooting occurred between 10.30pm and 11pm, and it coincided with a packed-out Six60 concert playing less than 1km away.

Hammond Pl resident, William Willis said he was walking home with a mate from a separate gig on Saturday night, the pair were enjoying listening to the music as they reached Willis’ house.

Three houses were shot at in the shootings, one twice. Photo / George Heard

Three houses were shot at in the shootings, one twice. Photo / George Heard

The music was quickly drowned out by the sound of sirens, Willis described, as six police units swooped down the street with officers carrying rifles.

“We must have arrived just after the shooting happened,” he said.

“I was like, oh for God’s sakes more [gang activity].”

He’d overheard the shooting on Friday night, which occurred at the same property in question - right next to Willis’ house.

Residents who were home on Friday night said they saw police dogs and armed offenders marking a perimeter and cordoning off the street.

Willis had been playing Playstation at the time of the Friday shooting, he overheard the cracks, which he first thought were firecrackers.

“But they didn’t have the after-explosion, which is quintessential with firecrackers. I’ve been around guns enough as I grew up on a farm, when I heard it I was like ‘ah, that’s what it is’.”

Working part-time at a liquor shop, Willis is already well-versed in the feeling of crime escalation in the city. However, this shooting hit a little closer to home.

“There’s lots of kids around. If it’s just me, I’m not as concerned but with children and my partner around, I’m slightly more on edge.”

A Broadbent St resident who lived down the road from the house said police were at her house the following morning investigating the matter, checking if her CCTV cameras captured anything.

“We’re afraid for our kids with stuff like this happening,” she said.

“We believe this is a safe country, but hearing about this and other incidents, it’s getting scary. It’s different now, the amount of crime here like the stabbing [at Bexley Reserve].

“We still believe we’re safe, but we need to be careful now.”

Anyone with information about any of the four incidents is urged to get in touch by calling 105 and quoting file number 221210/6364.

You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

- Sam Sherwood and Nathan Morton, NZH

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