Police investigating the shooting of a man in central Christchurch on Sunday morning say they have recovered the gun used in the incident.
Three people charged in connection with the shooting appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Monday morning.
They were arrested at a house in the suburb of Spreydon after a man was shot in the chest with a .22 calibre rifle. The man is in a serious but stable condition in Christchurch hospital.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Hill said the rifle was recovered from a rural location.
Police said one of those charged, Lance John Ross, 22, told them he fired a warning shot during an altercation with a group, but it was ignored.
He claimed he was being threatened by another man who also had a weapon, and fired a second shot in self-defence.
Judge Philip Moran remanded Mr Ross in custody, saying there would be a lot of anger and heat in the community and more trouble was likely. The two others have been remanded on bail.
