Police say a person injured after falling from a Wellington balcony was “fleeing to safety” after a shotgun was fired in an apartment building.

Emergency services scrambled to the scene on Brooklyn Rd about 3.35pm yesterday.

Witnesses told police they had heard a gunshot before the person fell.

Police today said there would be members of the public who saw the offender or knew who they were.

“We urge anyone with information that could help the investigation to contact police via 105 and use the reference number 251102/6491,” Detective Senior Sergeant Lee Underhill said.

Police believed the offender was targeting a specific individual when they fired the gun.

Underhill said the victim was moderately injured when they had to “flee to safety”.

“It is concerning that an offender has discharged a firearm in a highly populated apartment building, and we are aggressively pursuing every lead in order to locate the offender,” Underhill said.

“It is appalling violence that put a number of people at risk and could have had a very different outcome.

“I recognise that the offending will be unsettling for the complex and nearby residents.”

There would be an increased police presence in the area to reassure the community, Underhill said.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers business, breaking news and local stories from Tāmaki Makaurau. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.