The scene of the alleged shooting. Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
A woman who lives across the road from a house where another woman was shot and critically injured in Christchurch says she assumed the bang was fireworks.
Emergency services were called to the property in Wainoni's Shortland Street at about 8.45pm on Monday where they found the woman in a critical condition.
Police are still hunting for the person who shot her and left the scene in a car.
Neighbour Shirley Achari said she heard people yelling and then what she thought was fireworks.
Police at the scene on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
"We heard but we didn't come out to see what was happening because I thought it was a group of people shouting and yelling. Then the shooting one, we thought it was firecrackers," she said.
Achari said she only learnt of the shooting when her daughter returned from the supermarket and said the police had cordoned off the house.
She said she had often seen a young girl from the house going to school but otherwise did not know the family.
The shooting had come as a shock because the neighbourhood was usually very quiet, Achari said.
A trampoline and children's toys could be seen at the address. Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
"I always tell everyone, my friends, that this is the quietest place and we are very safe and lucky to stay here in Shortland Street because we like quiet neighbours," she said.
At the cordoned off property, children's play equipment can be seen in the backyard and clothes hang on the washing line.
Officers were examining the scene, including inspecting a car covered by a tarpaulin in the driveway, while a police photographer took photos.
The area remains cordoned off, blocking access to Tahuna Street.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
