Fatal shooting ‘scared the living daylights’ out of motel staff nearby

• Author: Miriam Burrell
• Published date: 08 November 2021
• Publication title: Daily Post, The (Rotorua, New Zealand)

He was found injured on the driveway of a property on Great North Rd in New Lynn on Friday just after 10am, after police received reports of a firearm being discharged.

Police tried to perform first aid but the man died at the scene.

His death prompted a homicide investigation which is ongoing. No arrests have been made.

The driveway sits next to the New Haven Motel, where cleaners were working on the morning of the incident.

“A girl was cleaning a room right next door, about 2m away from where it happened,” a staff member told the NZ Herald.

“I thought it was a firework. I said: ‘No, no it’s only a firework’ and she said: ‘No someone has got a gun and they just shot that guy there’,” the staffer said, who the Herald has agreed not to name.

Before the alleged shooting, a car was seen driving into the motel carpark. Staff asked the driver to leave.

“This car drove in, parked across from the reception, it looked like one of the units’ [guests], but I knew they weren’t in there because the people had left,” the staff member said.

“I went to tell them ‘listen you can’t park here’ ... then slowly they turned off, they went to the front of the gate where the letterbox is and everyone got out of the car.

“Next...