Pubdate: Thu, 25 Oct 2007
Source: Manawatu Evening Standard (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2007 Manawatu Evening Standard
Contact:  http://www.manawatueveningstandard.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1057
Author: Christian Bonnevie

GUNMAN AFTER DRUGS BLASTS WRONG HOUSE

Police are hunting a gunman who fired a shot through the glass door of
a Palmerston North home last night, injuring a woman who had denied
him entry to protect her children.

Inspector Steve Darroch said the incident happened in Geraldine
Crescent in the suburb of Cloverlea at about 10.15pm.

The gunman, dressed in dark clothing and wearing a balaclava, bashed
on the door of the house and when the woman opened it she saw what
appeared to be a shotgun.

The Manawatu Standard understands he asked about drugs, the woman told
the man he had the wrong house and refused to let him in.

A shot was then fired through the door, spraying the woman with shards
of glass.

She was taken to hospital to receive treatment for several
gashes.

Mr Darroch said the gunman was described as being about 173cm tall and
of slim build.

He is believed to have left in an older style blue liftback with three
other people. A nearby resident said he was horrified by the attack.

"I was sitting up doing paperwork when I heard this loud boom, almost
like fireworks," he said.

"As you do, you go investigate but it all happened very quickly and
whoever it was had taken off."

The resident said there was a fair bit of blood about following the
shooting but an ambulance arrived within minutes to treat the injured
woman.

Police arrived shortly after to secure the scene.

The occupants of the house were "honest, hardworking people" and their
daughter delivered the Manawatu Standard in the area, he said.

"I have no doubt they got the wrong house and in a way that makes it
worse.

"We have a few troublemakers around here but we've never experienced
anything like this before," he said.

"I've lived here for 15 years and the community looks out for each
other. All the kids have grown up together and this really makes you
think about the type of people out there."

A police scene examination was underway this morning and a team of
detectives are working on the case.

Police are urging the public to report any suspicious behaviour or
suspicious vehicles in the Geraldine Crescent area last night.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the crimeline
on 0800-80-85-85 or (06) 351-3600. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake