Shots fired in Adelaide underground carpark of Greenhill Rd business
A citywide manhunt is continuing after two people were shot at an underground carpark in Wayville – with the getaway car destroyed in a fire.
Police & Courts
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Police are hunting a gunman who shot at a female disability care worker and a man in the underground carpark of a Greenhill Rd building at Wayville, home to charities and Scouts SA.
The terrifying incident, in which at least two shots were fired, happened about 8am as peak hour traffic rushed by the building – and within metres of neighbouring Annesley Junior School.
One of the victims works for NDIS provider Better Care Australia, which is among a range of organisations in the Motor Trade Association SA office building – including rehabilitation for veterans service Helping Heroes and another NDIS provider Community Assist.
A luxury Mercedes belonging to the victims was struck by gunfire and was towed for forensic examination.
No injuries were reported.
The woman reportedly stumbled into traffic screaming, and was assisted by a good Samaritan who stopped cars and helped her.
The two victims, who are not accused of any wrongdoing, were later seen co-operating with the investigation.
Police say the attack was not random and they are hunting at least one suspect.
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They revealed the getaway car – a purple Honda sedan – was set on fire in Kurralta Park about two hours later, with a man captured on CCTV appearing to ignite the blaze with a jerry can.
Annesley contacted parents advising no one from the school was hurt or targeted.
Sara Kruse, 39, had dropped off her six-year-old daughter when she heard about the incident.
“Obviously, it’s quite worrying that it happened so close to the school,” Ms Kruse said.
“It’s really upsetting whenever something like this happens in the local community, especially when it’s close by.”
A witness told 7NEWS a good Samaritan stopped to help when the woman ran screaming into busy traffic on Greenhill Rd immediately after the shooting.
“I heard a couple of shots coming from Greenhill Rd … then a woman was screaming and running across the road,” he said.
“And then a man attended to her on the road, stopping the traffic and she walked across to the tenancies on the other side of the road.”
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Duance said the shooting was “not a random attack”.
“We’re following a line of inquiry at present and that’s what’s brought us to that conclusion,” he said.
Police linked the shooting to a car fire in Selby St, Kurralta Park just before 10am.
“It’s since been confirmed that the car fire is in fact linked to the shot-firing incident at Wayville,” Inspector Duance said.
“A purple-coloured Honda Civic sedan was engulfed with flames when crews arrived and was completely destroyed in the blaze.
“That was the vehicle seen leaving the scene of the shooting.
“We’re aware of one (suspect) at this time.”
The Motor Trade Association SA’s building also houses Scouts SA, electronic components business Braemac and Kyocera Documents Solutions.
Police are yet to recover the firearm but said there was no danger to the wider community.
“I want to assure the public that there’s no community safety issues … it was clearly targeted,” Inspector Duance said.
A 64-year-old resident on Clark St, who lives less than 100m from the building, said she heard “two loud bangs”.
“I just thought maybe someone just hit my fence in the laneway, because that happens all the time,” the woman said.
She said she complained to police previously about cars entering and exiting the laneway late at night.
“It’s a bit sinister because they come at all hours of the night,” she said.
“I’ve told the police but there’s not much they can really do.”
A heavy police presence remained at the scene and officers searched the parking lot, as well as the tennis court and the parklands across the road.
The SES were also called in to help comb the scene.
MTA SA chief executive officer Darrell Jacobs said all staff and tenants were safe, and police were keeping the MTA informed.
Police are appealing for information and encourage anyone with details to contact Crime Stoppers online at crimestopperssa.com.au or to call 1800 333 000.
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