10 Aug 2014

Arrest after Feilding shooting

9:00 pm on 10 August 2014

A man has been shot in what police say appears be a dispute between two groups in Manawatu on Saturday night.

At about 11am on Saturday, armed police responded to reports a firearm was discharged at a house in Oakley Street in Palmerston North.

Police say no complaints were laid.

Then, about 9pm on Saturday in Feilding, a vehicle driving along Makino Road was hit by a single shot from what is believed to be a shotgun.

The driver suffered a minor wound to his hand and is being treated at Palmerston North Hospital.

Police say a nearby house was cleared by members of the Armed Offenders Squad, and a 28-year-old Feilding man has been arrested and is due to appear in the Palmerston North District Court on Monday.

Detective Sergeant Dave Thompson said it appeared an innocent man has been caught in the middle of a dispute between two groups. He said it was not a gang-related incident.

Friend says man's 'lucky to be alive'

Meanwhile a friend of the man who was shot said he was lucky to be alive after his car door was 'peppered' with gunshot.

Geoff Partridge said his friend was trying to visit his cousin and had pulled up alongside a row of letterboxes to check the numbers in the dark.

He heard an explosion and initally thought his car had blown up, but then realised his hand was bleeding and sore.

He is recovering from surgery to remove shot pellets from his hand.