A firearm was discharged into a vehicle that comes out of the parking lot of a new option of options at State Highway 2 in Featherston around 4 pm.
A man was located in a vehicle in Carterton with an apparent bullet injury and has since died.
A second vehicle fled the scene, but was then intercepted by police in Kaitoke.
Two people of this vehicle are now in custody, police said.
“The total extent of involvement of the two occupants is a focus of our investigation,” said detective inspector John Van de Heuvel.
He said a scene exam will take place in Featherston in the coming days.
“We recognized that this was an distressing incident for those who witnessed him and the general community,” he said.
“The police will have a growing presence in the community while we work to determine what led to the fight and who was involved.”
Carteron mayor Ron Mark told RNZ that police and ambulances were called to the city’s main street to serve a person in a vehicle with a bullet injury that later died.
The incident was reported in Carterton, near Pembroke Street, as well as in Featherston, near Daniell Street, around 4 pm.
Mark said it seemed that the incident was targeted and did not represent a threat to the community in general.
“I am very confident that the police will solve it quickly.”
He said the community wanted to know what was going on, that he believed it was understandable.
“Sirens, ambulances, police cars, races, road blocks and helicopters tend to cause a little concern.”
Mark told RNZ that it seems that the person was brought to Carterton in a vehicle “in the state he was.”
Highway State 2 Through Featherston and Cartion, and State Highway 2 in Kaitoke, have reopened ever since.
In a Facebook post, the New World Carton said the store was closed to a new warning.
“Our apologies for any inconvenience caused. Let’s keep it up to date when we can reopen.”
Police say they would like to hear from those who witnessed this event or have some information for the people involved. Anyone with information is requested to call 105 on -line or by phone.
