Chief Inspector Tevita Fifita

A 33-year-old man from Kolovai was hunted by a Police Tactical Response Group and arrested after he allegedly shot a man with a rifle at a home in Fo'ui on May 23. The victim is reported to be in a stable condition at Vaiola Hospital with injuries on his upper left arm.

The Kolovai man has been charged with causing bodily harm.

Tonga Police reported that the accused was allegedly drunk and armed with the rifle when he arrived in a vehicle at the house where the 48-year-old victim was living at Fo'ui. He allegedly fired around three gunshots from outside the premises. The victim was shot before he ran inside the house to take cover.

The Acting Commissioner of Police Lau'aitu Tupouniua said that at 5:15pm police at Nukunuku received a report of someone injured in a shooting.

She said police went to the scene and rushed the victim to the hospital. A Police Tactical Response Group was immediately formed because a firearm was involved. They worked together with police officers at the western district and divided into four groups to search for the accused whom they arrested at 9:00pm last night and seized the firearm, she said.

"It was great outcome and shows the progress Tongan Police officers have made. We have had appropriate trainings funded by the Australian Federal Police and New Zealand Police," she said.

Shooting

Chief Inspector Tevita Fifita, Commanding Officer - Western District,  said they arrested the accused at his home in Kolovai and seized the rifle.

He said three shots were made by the accused. He never went inside the premises but fired the shots from outside the gate after arriving in his vehicle with the rifle. The victim was shot before he ran inside the house where his wife and two other persons were inside. Noone else was injured, he said.

"We have charged him with causing bodily harm, for now, but the investigation continues while he remains in custody at the Nukunuku Police station."

He said the accused was not a registered firearm holder and they were also investigating whether the rifle was registered.

Names were not released at this stage, but both men knew each other, said the Chief Inspector.

Acting Commissioner of Police Lau'aitu Tupouniua and Chief Inspector Tevita Fifita. Nuku'alofa, 24 May 2013.