Two houses in Auckland were shelled during drive-by shootings on Friday night, but it is too early to say whether the incidents were gang-related, police say.
However, the incidents are not believed to be related.
A police spokesman said the front door of a home on Avondale’s Ruahine St was shot at around 12:50 p.m. on Saturday.
“This firearm is said to have been unloaded by a person who was on foot at the time.”
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The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
A smashed window was seen at a house in Ōtara after a drive-by shooting and gunshot embedded in the walls.
At 2 a.m., a house in Ōtara’s Tate St was fired upon.
There were no reports of injuries.
A spokesman said a security guard remained in place and an investigation into the incident was underway.
Police were unable to say whether the shootings were related to other recent drive-by shootings in Auckland, as the investigation is still in its early stages.
Earlier, at 3:30 p.m. Friday, police received reports of a firearm allegedly aimed from a vehicle in Gulf Harbor.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
The house was shelled around 2 a.m. Saturday.
Four people had since been arrested, including a 23-year-old man charged with illegal possession of an imitation firearm.
He was due to appear before the North Shore District Court on a date yet to be determined, while the other three people were referred to Youth Services.
At around 7pm, police received a report of two men allegedly pointing a gun at a person in Avondale.
The men are said to have left shortly afterwards.
The police have since stated that they cannot substantiate this report.
“Police recognize that firearms incidents are a concern in the community and want to reassure the public that we take any crime involving firearms extremely seriously.”
Firearms crimes in Auckland have escalated since the start of the year.
Police figures released under the Official Information Act showed that there were 386 events in Auckland alone since January.
The highest number of firearms incidents in Auckland so far this year was recorded in May, when the turf war between the Killer Beez and Tribesmen spilled on the street.
In January, there were 54 firearms violations in Tāmaki Makaurau. There were 37 violations in February and 76 incidents in March.
There were 109 incidents in May, followed by a drop to 44 in June.
Meanwhile, in a ram raid incident around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, two people allegedly stole vapes from a Westgate store before fleeing.
Police said the vehicle was abandoned on Pua Street in Westgate and their investigation was continuing.