Police appeal for public's help to find two Tongan men over South Auckland shooting that left man dead, woman injured

May 2, 2018

A woman was left seriously hurt after the early-morning incident in Mangere.

Police are appealing for the public's help in finding two Tongan men who are suspects in the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man found dead yesterday morning in the South Auckland suburb of Mangere.

A 25-year-old woman was also found at the scene seriously injured with gunshot wounds.

Today police confirmed the dead man's identity as Abraham Tuuheava, 28, from Manurewa. He was also known as Epalahame Tuuheava or "Hame".

A post-mortem examination is being carried out today by the coroner, Detective Inspector Tofilau Faa Vaaelua of Counties Manukau CIB told media this afternoon.

Police are continuing to make inquiries into yesterday's fatal shooting incident on Greenwood Road in Mangere, Mr Vaaelua said.

Police are continuing to talk to the female victim, who was known to the deceased male, as part of their inquiries.

A woman was also left seriously hurt after the May 1 incident.

She remains in Auckland Hospital in a serious but stable condition and is recovering following surgery for multiple gunshot wounds, Mr Vaaelua said.

Police are still piecing together the circumstances surrounding the incident and are in the process of carrying out a forensic analysis of the victims' car which was located at the scene.

Mr Vaaelua says police are looking for two Tongan males over the incident, one believed to be older than the other.

One is also taller than the other and was described as having a slightly hunched back. 

Mr Vaaelua said police are working to establish why this happened and at this stage he cannot say if it's gang related. 

He said it's not a random attack.

"We believe there is something a lot more sinister with the offenders. The way they have shot the victims we believe there is a lot more to it," he said.

"We believe this was an isolated incident and we also feel confident that through our inquiries will be able to uncover the identity of those responsible for this attack," Mr Vaaelua said.

Police have also released a photo of the victims' car, a silver 2017 Toyota Camry, in the hope that members of the public may have seen it as they drove past the vehicle on Greenwood Rd any time before 6am on Tuesday. 

"We want to hear from anyone who saw this vehicle on Greenwood Road early yesterday morning or who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area," Mr Vaaelua said.

"We believe it's only a matter of time before the offenders are caught and we are appealing to the males involved to hand themselves in to police.

"We are also appealing to anyone in our community with information about this incident to do the right thing and contact police," he said.

Information can be provided by calling the Counties Manukau Crime Squad on 09 261 1321 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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