Location: HELENSVILLE
District: Waitemata

Paintball Shootings in Helensville

Rodney Police are following positive leads in their enquiries into at least 10 reported paintball gun incidents in the Kumeu/Huapai/Helensville areas over the past 2-3 weeks.

Three persons have been injured in the shootings including a 14 year old female who was shot three times in the leg while she was waiting to board a bus outside the Parakai Hot Pools.

Police say the incident happened at 5.00pm on Thursday 13 October 2011. The girl was with two other friends when a dark saloon car drove by. There were two male occupants in the car. One of the occupants fired three shots at the girl.

She received minor bruising in the assault, and was left with green paint on her body. The projectiles caused a large welt on her leg. The young teenage girl was shocked by the experience.

Just 30 minutes earlier a man who was working in his garden at an address in Manuka Grove Helensville observed two males shooting paint balls from a similarly described vehicle. Soon after the dark saloon car drove by his home. He had his car shot at while it was parked on his property.

Another incident occurred at the Muriwai Beach, Maori Bay lookout. At about 4.50pm on Friday 30 September 2011 a man was hit in the ear by a paintball fired from a moving vehicle.

This vehicle was described as an old dark coloured saloon with two male occupants.

Such was the force of the paintball when it hit the male victim in the head that he was knocked to the ground. He suffered minor injuries from the impact of the paintball.

Two hours later a male was driving on Muriwai Road when his vehicle was hit by a paintball fired from a moving vehicle.

Police are significantly concerned about these incidents. They have occurred both at night and during the day. Business premises, houses and people have all been affected by these random paintball shootings. They are yellowish green in colour.

There is no apparent reason for these shootings.

The paintball guns being used have a high velocity. They have the potential to cause serious injury to all parts of the body especially the eyes, mouth, throat, the torso, arms and legs.

Police encourage members of the public to call Police immediately if they see or hear of any such incidents.

The local Helensville community is urged to call the police on 09 420 8967 or alternatively call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information about these or other shootings.

Kevin [Kev] Loughlin
Communications Manager & Media Advisor
Waitematä Police District Headquarters |

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