Key Takeaways
- A violent, unprovoked assault on seven young people occurred, resulting in a range of injuries, including a fractured skull.
- Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, with charges including wounding, assault to injure, and common assault.
- One suspect remains at large, and police are seeking public assistance to locate him.
- The alleged attackers were captured on CCTV footage at a Mobil Gas Station about 20 minutes before the incident.
- Police are urging anyone with information about the outstanding suspect to come forward, either online or through Crime Stoppers.
Introduction to the Incident
The incident in question occurred when a group of young people were subjected to a planned, violent, and unprovoked assault by a group of individuals. According to Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch, the attack resulted in a range of injuries, from minor bruising to a fractured skull, which required surgery. Fortunately, all seven victims are now recovering from their injuries at home. The incident has sparked a thorough investigation, with police working to bring all those responsible to justice.
Arrests and Charges
As a result of the investigation, three people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Two men, aged 17 and 21, have been jointly charged with wounding, assault to injure, and common assault. These charges are serious and reflect the severity of the injuries sustained by the victims. Additionally, an 18-year-old man was charged earlier in the week with multiple counts, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault with intent to injure, and common assault. These charges demonstrate the violent nature of the attack and the intent of the perpetrators to cause harm.
Outstanding Suspect
Despite the arrests, one suspect remains at large, and police are seeking public assistance to locate him. The suspect was described as wearing a grey hoodie, beige or grey shorts, and black sneakers on the night of the incident. Although he was not captured in the images released by police, his description has been made public in the hopes that someone may recognize him. Detective Senior Sergeant Leitch has appealed to the community to come forward with any information that may lead to the suspect’s identification and arrest. It is believed that the suspect’s violent offending is likely known to those around him, and police are urging anyone with information to contact them.
Investigation and Evidence
The investigation into the incident has been thorough, with police collecting CCTV footage from a Mobil Gas Station in Johnsonville, where the alleged attackers were seen about 20 minutes before the incident. This footage has been crucial in identifying the suspects and piecing together the events of the night. Police have also released images of one of the suspects, who was wearing a distinctive black hoodie with "Lakers" printed on the front, dark-coloured shorts, white sneakers, and a diamante stud. The use of CCTV footage and witness descriptions has been instrumental in identifying and arresting three of the suspects, and police are hopeful that the same methods will lead to the capture of the outstanding suspect.
Public Assistance
Police are urging anyone with information about the outstanding suspect to come forward, either online or through Crime Stoppers. The public’s assistance has been invaluable in the investigation so far, and police are grateful for the community’s help in bringing those responsible to justice. If you have any information, you can contact police online at 105.police.govt.nz, using the reference number 251217/8772. Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111. By working together, the police and the community can ensure that those responsible for this violent attack are held accountable for their actions.