Sydney Shooting: 60-Year-Old Charged After Wounding 16

Australian police have charged a 60-year-old man following a shooting incident in Croydon Park, Sydney, which left 16 people injured. The attack occurred on the evening of October 6, 2023, when the suspect allegedly opened fire from his property, targeting passing vehicles and police in a chaotic scene.

Officers responded swiftly to reports of gunfire and quickly established a lockdown in the area. They entered the suspect’s property, located above a business, and arrested the man. According to New South Wales Police, a rifle and ammunition were recovered from the scene.

Details of the Incident

Witnesses described the terrifying moments as they unfolded. An office worker, Joe Azar, who was nearby, initially mistook the sounds for fireworks or objects striking windows. “Some guy’s windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered,” Azar recounted to The Sydney Morning Herald. “It was frantic. It all happened so quick, so I couldn’t comprehend what was going on,” he added.

Initially, police estimated that up to 100 bullets were fired and that 20 people were injured. However, Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry later revised these figures, confirming approximately 50 shots were fired and 16 individuals sustained injuries. “In my 35 years in the police, there’s been very few incidents of this nature where somebody is randomly targeting people in the street,” he stated.

The accused shooter was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained during the arrest. He faces a total of 25 charges, which include 18 counts of shooting with intent to murder, firing a weapon in a public place, and possessing an unregistered firearm and ammunition. The suspect has been denied bail and is scheduled to appear in court on October 7, 2023.

Ongoing Investigation and Community Response

While one man self-presented at a hospital with a gunshot wound, police believe he is likely to survive. Others received treatment for minor injuries, primarily related to shattered glass from bullets striking car windows.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated there are “no known links to terrorism activity or any gang activity.” One witness, identified only as Tadgh, described the scene as “something out of a movie” after he heard the rapid succession of gunfire while watching rugby.

Mass shootings are uncommon in Australia, largely due to strict gun control measures implemented after a tragic incident in 1996 in Port Arthur, Tasmania, which resulted in the deaths of 35 people. The recent shooting highlights ongoing concerns about public safety, particularly in urban areas. In a related incident, another alleged gunman, Dezi Freeman, remains at large after being accused of killing two police officers in August 2023.

The investigation into the Croydon Park shooting continues, as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding this alarming event.