One person shot dead at South Auckland church

Police are still hunting the gunman who fired a fatal shot outside a South Auckland church this morning.

Police were called to the Papatoetoe Seventh Day Adventist Community Church in Puhinui Road, near Manukau town centre, about 10am after reports of someone being shot.

Police have confirmed that a person was given urgent first aid but died at the scene.

While the church at the centre of the shooting carried on with its service and told its congregation the gunman had been caught, police said they were “following positive lines of enquiry to locate the offender”.

Police said people at the church were helping them with their enquiries.

They said the victim was “deliberately targeted”.

Police at the scene of a shooting at a South Auckland church.
Photo: Mabel Muller

The church’s Christmas worship service was due to start at the time.

However, the church service went ahead and a member of the church told the congregation police had caught the man responsible.

“As most of you will know, we’ve had an incident happen here this morning and I have been talking to the authorities about that and they are really keen for us to continue this morning,” the clearly-shaken woman told the service.

“There’s obviously a strong presence of police around as they continue to investigate and do their job, but I wanted you to know that he is caught and we are safe.”

She then led the congregation in prayer, acknowledging the hurt the church community was feeling in the wake of the shooting.

Police at the scene of a shooting at a church in South Auckland.
Photo: Mabel Muller

A number of patched Mongrel Mob members were at the scene this morning.

Armed police remain at the scene where a cordon at the church entrance is in place.

A neighbour said he was awoken by the sounds of dozens of police descending on the scene.

“I was sleeping … while my flatmate was standing here. He just saw one guy running on the left and three or four guys running behind him.”

The neighbour said it was an uneasy having a dozen of patched Mongrel Mob members hanging around next door.

Manukau business owner Peter Douglas from the nearby business Inflatable World said he heard sirens start and continute for at least 40 minutes.

St John sent two ambulances, two rapid response vehicles and one manager, but were not needed to transport anyone, a spokesperson confirmed.

Photo: RNZ/Jonty Dine