Henderson Police are unimpressed by the discovery that a drive by shooting in West Auckland was fabricated by a 15 year old youth and his elder brother.
Police were called to an incident at about 8.50am this morning when it was alleged that a male student had been shot at by occupants of a passing car.
The victim claimed he had been shot in the finger with a BB gun while he was walking along Archlynn Road in Kelston. A pellet fired from an air gun was embedded in his left hand. He was treated for his injury at Waitakere Hospital.
Police soon located a vehicle which closely matched the described car. The two male occupants had a BB gun in their possession inside the vehicle. The pair were taken to Henderson Police Station where they were questioned.
While at the hospital the injured teenager heard a radio broadcast that two 16 year old youths were being quizzed by police about the incident. He then admitted to a Police Officer who was assisting him that the shooting had happened at his home. The youth told the officer he'd been shot by his elder brother.
Late this afternoon police went to an address in New Lynn. Police seized an air gun and arrested a 19 year old male at the address. The man has been charged with careless use of a firearm. The penalty for this offence is three years imprisonment or a $4,000 fine. The man will appear in the Waitakere District Court tomorrow
His 15 year old brother will be referred to Police Youth Aid Section for his role in the incident. - A 16 year old youth has been separately charged with an offence under the Firearms Act and has also been referred to Youth Aid.
Police say there has been a full day given to investigating this incident and to discover that it was a fabrication by those involved is extremely disappointing.
ENDS;
Kevin [Kev] Loughlin
Communications Manager / Media Advisor
Waitemata Police District -
Phone 09 488 9758 - Extn 96308 - Mobile 027 281 0271
Email - kevin.loughlin@police.govt.nz