Witnesses to a shooting in Hei Hei in Christchurch this afternoon have reported hearing a shotgun blast followed by a racist rant.
The flat in the Christchurch suburb of Hei Hei where a man was shot in the leg. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
Police are searching for a suspected gunman after two schools were briefly placed in lockdown.
They were called to a house following reports a man was shot in the leg.
Police said the victim was likely to remain in hospital overnight, but was not seriously wounded in the attack.
They said a Māori or Pacific Islander in his twenties left the house and as a precaution two nearby schools, St Bernadette's and Hornby High, were placed in lockdown.
The man was wearing a red and blue checked shirt and jeans.
Police said he should not be approached and were seeking information of his whereabouts from the public.
Neighbour Luke Goodseeker said others who live in his block of flats who told him they heard a shotgun blast and then a racist rant before a car drove away.
Mr Goodseeker said he saw the victim being taken away on a stretcher with a bandaged leg.
A neighbour, who wanted only to be known as Karen, said she was worried about her safety following the incident, and she would think twice before inviting her grandchildren over to visit.
Police said the people at the house knew each other and the public was not at risk.
A police officer at the flat in the Christchurch suburb of Hei Hei where a man was shot in the leg. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
Hornby High School deputy principal Jon Sutton said police contacted the school shortly after the end of classes at 3pm.
Mr Sutton said students were leaving the school when the call came through and it was put in lockdown.
He said several hundred students were held inside the school gates until the all clear was given about 10 minutes later.
