South Grafton shooting to be probed by new police strike force as public urged to hand in guns

Search still underway for man wanted for questioning in relation to the shooting of a 15-year-old boy and assault of his father, as police push for firearms to be surrendered.

Police will bring a strike force of detectives to Grafton to help find a man wanted for questioning in relation to the shooting of a teenager in South Grafton.

Speaking to media Tuesday, Coffs/Clarence Police crime manager Det Chief Inspector Guy Flaherty said the strike force would be brought in to help find 30-year-old Sam Lynch, who is wanted for questioning in relation to the incident.

About 9pm on Saturday night, there was a dispute which led to a 15-year-old boy being shot in the torso. His 45-year-old father received head injuries.

NSW Ambulance revealed that the boy was flown to Gold Coast Hospital Saturday night by Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and his father was taken by ambulance to Coffs Harbour Health campus.

The scene of a fight on Saturday night at Camelia Way South Grafton where a 15-year-old boy was shot in the torso and his father received head injuries.

On Sunday night, police stated they believed them both to be in a stable condition, with their injuries non life-threatening.

Det Chief Inspector Flaherty said they were bringing in extra resources to progress the investigation.

“Currently Grafton detectives are focusing their efforts on locating Sam Lynch in relation to this firearms incident that occurred on Saturday, and we are also being assisted by Robberies and Serious Crime Squad” Det Chief Insp Flaherty said.

“There will be a total of 10 detectives over the coming weeks to focus their inquiries in locating (Sam Lynch).”

Det Chief Insp Flaherty said the shooting incident was the second for the police district this year, with the first and incident where a man received four gunshot wounds at close range in the torso and legs while on the side of the road near Emerald Beach.

“Coffs Harbour police are currently supporting the state gun amnesty, and appeal for any members of the public who no longer have any need for firearms, or reassess their needs to hold firearms to bring them in and surrender them to any of the police stations in the Coffs/Clarence police district,” he said.

“It’s important to reduce the risk in the community as we have found a number of properties over the past months have been subject to firearms being taken across the state, and some of these have been in the Coffs/Clarence district.

An image provided by NSW Police of Samuel Lynch, aged 40, is wanted by the virtue of an outstanding arrest warrant in relation to an alleged shooting incident in Grafton at the weekend.

Det Chief Insp Flaherty said gun amnesties were vital with the success of the surrendering of firearms having a direct comparison to the reduction of firearm related offences particularly with shoot to intent to murder and armed robbery offences.

“It is a simple situation that the reduction of firearms in the hands of offenders and the removal of firearms from people who no longer possess the need for them reduces the risk for the community,” he said.

Police described Mr Lynch as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, between 175cm to 185cm tall, of medium build, with brown hair, brown eyes and a moustache.

He also has distinctive tattoos on his arms and legs, a dove outline on his right cheek, writing above his right eye and a teardrop under his left eye and is known to frequent the Grafton area.

“We urge any members of the public to contact Crimestoppers with any information they have as to the whereabouts of Sam Lynch to assist the strike force,” Det Chief Insp Flaherty said.

“We do remind people to ensure not to approach him themselves, as he is wanted in relation to the discharge of a firearm and the shooting of a 15-year-old boy.”