A man was fatally shot in East Auckland on Tuesday. Police found him with a gunshot wound inside a courier van in Pakuranga early on Monday. Neighbors thought he didn’t work and that the van belonged to a family member.
Amanda Craig, who lived in the area for nearly 20 years, heard the gunshots while getting ready for work. She was in the bathroom when she suddenly heard rapid “bang, bang, bang” noises. At first, she thought it was gunfire, but when she asked her husband, he didn’t hear anything. They both shrugged it off, and she continued getting ready for work. Her husband left for work shortly after the shooting and saw only one police car. Later, she heard a police helicopter and more sirens.
Craig said this is the first shooting in their quiet neighborhood. It usually feels safe, and she doesn’t know most of her neighbors. She found the incident unbelievable. Following the shooting, police started a homicide investigation.
Craig mentioned that the crime has made everyone feel uneasy. People are frightened because the shooter hasn’t been caught. They don’t know if the attack was targeted or random. “We will be scared until we get answers,” she said. Neighbors described the victim as a kind man who loved gardening and playing with his grandchildren.
