Police are investigating a shooting at a Palmerston North car park, just metres from a children’s playground.

The victim was found yesterday afternoon in a critical condition, which has since changed to a serious condition.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Thompson said emergency services were called to Marriner St by a member of the public after gunshots were heard about 3.15pm.

“The victim was located with gunshot-related injuries.

“He was taken to Palmerston North Hospital in a very serious condition and underwent surgery. Because of his injuries, he has been flown to Wellington Hospital, where he is in intensive care, awaiting further treatment,” Thompson said.

He said, as part of the investigation, police were making inquiries into a car fire on Karere Rd to determine whether the two incidents were linked.

Thompson said the car fire was reported a short time after the shooting.

The two streets are about an 8km distance apart.

One person who arrived on scene after the incident occurred told the Herald there were at least 10 police cars present.

“A 100m cordon had been set up and residents on the streets were coming out to have a look at what was happening,” he said.

CCTV sought

Thompson said police were looking to identify vehicles that arrived and then left around the time of the shooting.

He said this is in relation to the Marriner St shooting and the car fire on Karere Rd.

“We ask members of the public who live in the area and have CCTV cameras to contact us. The manner of driving following these incidents would have attracted attention, and if you saw any vehicle driving at speed or erratically, please let us know,” Thompson said.

He said the proximity of the shooting to a playground was “worrying”.

“This area is very public, but it is especially concerning to see it happen so close to a children’s playground.

“Violence like this is unacceptable, and we need the community’s help to locate those involved,” he said.

Thompson said what members of the public have witnessed will be the key to identifying who is responsible for the shooting and why it happened.

“CCTV around Marriner St and Karere Rd is vitally important to this investigation.

“If you have cameras that may record movement of vehicles on the road, please make contact with us as soon as possible,” Thompson said.