A man was critically injured after being shot in the head and sliced by a machete outside a Palmerston North pub on Tuesday night.
Police were called to Rangitikei Street in the central city about 11.30 pm. There, they found a person in critical condition with a gunshot wound, who is now in a stable condition in hospital.
The Armed Offender Squad was later sent to a property in Selwyn Court, where a “vehicle of interest” was seized. The investigation is ongoing, but police believe they know the two people involved in the attack.
Royal Hotel owner Jazz Rawiri said the victim had been causing trouble in the gaming room and was asked to leave. The incident escalated into a sparring match.
The man was then “sliced” in the head with a machete before being shot in the head. Police confirmed a machete was involved in the attack.
Detective Thompson said there had been several shootings in Palmerston North in the past few weeks. Police proactively patrolling “areas of high demand.”
Last night’s assault is not related and is believed to be a one-off, non-gang-related incident. There was no risk to the wider community.
Royal Hotel owner Jazz Rawiri wrote to local MP Tangi Utikere to press the government to tighten laws. He felt the behavior was tolerated and punishments were not harsh enough.
The Royal Hotel has installed a metal detector to prevent weapon from being smuggled into the pub.
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