Shot fired through home of Carterton policeman

A Carterton policeman and his family are shaken but unhurt after someone late last night fired a shot into their home, shattering a lounge window.

The shooting happened at about 11.45pm, just minutes after Constable Peter Cunningham, 48, arrived home after finishing late shift in the town.

The ten-year police veteran was sitting in his lounge when the shooting happened. The bullet broke the window sending a chunk of a glass into the room but luckily the constable was not hit by the glass or the projectile. It was also fortunate that his wife and two children were elsewhere in the house.

Wairarapa Police are appealing for public help in finding the person who fired the shot. They don't yet know if the attack was random, directed at Constable Cunningham personally, Carterton Police or police generally.

Constable Cunningham is one of three police officers working in Carterton.

"It's too early in our inquiry to speculate on why the shooting happened," says Detective Sergeant Mark McHattie, head of Wairarapa Area CIB. "It's just extremely lucky that no-one was hurt."

Detective Sergeant McHattie says investigators will be speaking in more detail with Constable Cunningham this morning, and will also be conducting a scene examination at his home which includes specialist forensic help from the ESR.

Support systems are in place for the constable and his family.

Detective Sergeant McHattie urged people to call the CIB in Masterton if they had any information that will help the inquiry.

"If people heard or saw any suspicious activity in Carterton late last night, or if they have any knowledge of who might be responsible for the attack, then please let us know."

The Masterton Police Station number is: 06 370 0300

© Scoop Media