Armed police called to potential downtown shooting scene

Heavily armed police rushed to the scene of a potential shooting incident in central Dunedin and later swooped on an Ocean View house in search of a potential perpetrator.

A police spokeswoman said several reports of a firearm being discharged in Thomas Burns St were received about 4.40pm yesterday. 

A couple of shots had possibly been fired, but the reports had not been substantiated, the spokeswoman said.

Witnesses at the scene said they heard a loud bang, one saying he thought a car had exploded or that there had been a crash.

Shattered glass, which police cordoned off to inspect, could be seen lying on the kerb near the overbridge to Anzac Square.

Police dog teams and the armed offenders squad later searched a Brighton Rd address, between Creamery Rd and Edna St.

The road was cordoned off by armed officers for about 45 minutes, from 6.05pm, causing traffic to become backed up.

Police confirmed the Brighton Rd callout was related the earlier Thomas Burns St incident.

Officers had been trying to locate a person of interest in relation to the alleged shooting.

"Police have not located the person and inquiries will remain ongoing," the spokeswoman said.

oscar.francis@odt.co.nz