A cordon was set up, and a large-scale investigation was launched. <\/p>\n
Police say gunshots were heard about 8pm yesterday. Photo \/ Ben Tomsett<\/p>\n
Inspector Mike Bowman, Southland area commander, said this morning that several inquiries were underway to find the person or people involved. He appealed for anyone with information to come forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe offenders fled the scene before police arrived, and they are still outstanding,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe know there will be people in the community who know who did this, and we\u2019re asking them to help us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is clearly a serious incident, and police are treating all factors with urgency.\u201d<\/p>\n
The block of flats where the incident happened last night. Photo \/ Ben Tomsett<\/p>\n
Members of the public were urged to avoid the area, but police said they did not believe there was any risk to other members of the community.<\/p>\n
Hato Hone St John responded to the incident with three ambulances, one operations manager and two helicopters.<\/p>\n
There remains a visible police presence in the town this morning. <\/p>\n
A police car is parked outside a block of five flats where the shooting happened. <\/p>\n
Locals are shaken by the events.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unusual for Gore,\u201d one resident told the Herald.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s a slightly rougher area there. There used to be a bit of riff-raff at the campground, but that\u2019s been shut down now.”<\/p>\n
Police are on the scene this morning. Photo \/ Ben Tomsett<\/p>\n
Another resident said he was woken by his mother-in-law, who rang to tell them to stay inside. <\/p>\n
\u201cSomething\u2019s going on … there\u2019s a shooter out,\u201d the man said he was told. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s when I grabbed all the kids and locked up.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said it was \u201cnot the first time\u201d police had been called to that block of flats. He believed they had been there at least five times this year. <\/p>\n
Another neighbour said there had been \u201cgood and bad\u201d people living in the flats at different periods.<\/p>\n
Gore District Mayor Ben Bell said he was aware of the incident and reassured the community that it was an isolated event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pride ourselves on being a safe community, and incidents like this are very, very rare. Police are responding appropriately on this case.\u201d<\/p>\n
A scene guard remained at the Aparima St property overnight, and a scene examination would be carried out this morning, Bowman said.<\/p>\n
How to contact police<\/p>\n