Tauranga shooting: Police hunt clues

Police are hunting for the gunman responsible for shooting a 43-year-old man in the head with a shotgun in Welcome Bay last night.

The man was shot through a glass door at a property in Meander Drive at about 9pm.

He was taken to Tauranga Hospital by St John Ambulance paramedics where he was treated and later discharged.

A man was shot through a glass door at a property in Meander Drive in Welcome Bay.

Detective senior sergeant Greg Turner says the man was shot in the head with shotgun pellets through a closed glass door of the Meander Drive house.

“At this stage it is too early to establish or speculate on any possible motives.

“We are extremely keen to speak to anyone who was in that southern end of Meander, in or around the surrounding alleyways or side streets between 8-9pm.

“There was a man out running his dog seen by a neighbour. We are very keen to speak to any member of the public who was out running his dog about 9pm last night.”

The shooting happened about 9pm when the man, who lives in the house with his primary school aged daughter, was at home in the lounge.

Neighbour Emily Hughes moved in next door to the 43-year-old man about a month ago and she says it is usually a quiet neighbourhood.

At approximately 9pm last night she thought she had heard a car backfiring, which she says may have been the sound of a shotgun.

Frightened by the sound, Emily hesitated before going outside to check, waiting until other neighbours came out onto the street.

“We waited for others to come outside before we did,” says Emily.

Emily says the man lives in the house with his daughter who attends Selwyn Ridge School.

Emergency services were called to the property and the man was taken to hospital with minor superficial injuries.

Armed Offenders Squad guarded the hospital while the man was treated.

The house remains under police guard this morning while police undertake a scene examination, which follows on from an extensive search of the area last night says Greg.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact Tauranga Police on 07 5774300.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.