SYDNEY SHOOTING TERROR: ‘Highly Dangerous’ Gunman Unleashes 50-100 Bullets on Random Passersby, Leaving One Man Fighting for Life and 16 Others Injured
- A 60-year-old gunman with no known mental health history allegedly fired 50-100 bullets at random members of the public in Sydney’s inner west.
- A man in his 50s was left critically injured with gunshot wounds to the neck and chest, while 16 others suffered minor injuries.
- The alleged gunman, who had no connections to organised crime or terrorism, was arrested after a tense standoff with tactical officers.
A terrifying shooting spree has left a Sydney suburb in shock, with a 60-year-old gunman allegedly unleashing 50-100 bullets on random passersby. The incident, which occurred in Croydon Park on Sunday night, has left one man fighting for his life and 16 others injured.
Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry described the shooting as a “highly dangerous operation”, with the alleged gunman firing indiscriminately at people driving past in vehicles. “It is incredible no one has died or received serious injuries because of this,” he said.
The alleged gunman, who had no known mental health history, was taken into custody after a tense standoff with tactical officers. He was arrested at about 9:30pm and is currently being held at Burwood Police Station.
A 30-calibre rifle was seized from the scene, with detectives investigating whether the gun was legally owned. The alleged gunman did not have a gun licence, police said.
The shopping strip in Croydon Park has become a crime scene, with forensic officers scouring for evidence. The area was plunged into lockdown just after 7:45pm on Sunday, with locals ducking for cover as the alleged gunman fired shots from the window of a unit above a business on Georges River Road.
“As I was driving by I just heard a ‘bang, bang, bang’ on the left shoulder of the taxi,” said a taxi driver who witnessed the shooting. “I looked and I saw a couple of holes through the window on the passenger side … I didn’t realise there was a hole on the roof as well.”
Another resident, who was working from his office at the time, described the chaos that erupted. “Some guy’s windshield blew up and then the bus stop glass had shattered,” he said. “Bullets were just hitting stuff so we just ran back into the office.”
Premier Chris Minns praised the bravery of police officers and emergency services, saying: “I saw firsthand the composure, professionalism and courage of the officers who responded to this life-threatening incident. There is no place for this sort of violence in our state.”
The man who was shot in the neck and chest underwent emergency surgery at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and is expected to survive. His family, who were with him in the car at the time of the shooting, were uninjured.