By 1News Reporters
Sunday 7:45pm

Two people have been jointly charged with murder after a man was killed in a drive-by shooting in Wairarapa yesterday.


Witnesses said they were forced to cower behind cars at FreshChoice
Featherston when shots were fired at a vehicle leaving the carpark at around 4pm on Saturday.


Detective Inspector John van den Heuvel earlier said a man was located near
the Carterton New World with a gunshot wound a short time later.


The man died and a homicide investigation was launched.


A second vehicle fled the Featherston scene and was intercepted by police "without incident" at Kaitoke on Remutaka Hill, van den Heuvel said.

The charged men, aged 23 and 25, were due to appear in Wellington District Court tomorrow and further charges against the pair were being considered,
van den Heuvel said in a statement on Sunday evening.


"Our investigation continues, with one focus being to establish what other parties may have been involved in the incident.


"We can however say that police believe it involved parties known to each other, with no ongoing risk to the public," he said.


Van den Heuvel said the community's continued support was appreciated as officers continued to make enquiries in the Wairarapa


"People will continue to notice an increased police presence."


Carterton New World was closed following the incident but reopened on Sunday morning. The Featherston location examination was expected to be completed cleared this morning and scenes in Kaitoke and Carterton had been cleared, he added.


A post-mortem of the dead man was also expected to take place in Wellington tomorrow.

On Sunday, 1News captured footage of police investigating what appear to be bullet holes in a bakery sign across the road from FreshChoice Featherston, where the shooting reportedly took place.


Police continued to appeal for information from the public regarding the ongoing homicide investigation.

"We know a number of people would have seen elements of what happened yesterday, and we are keen to talk to you if you have not already spoken to police."


Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105.

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