A home invasion, two stabbings, gunfire and a high-speed crash shatter tranquillity of sleepy rural enclave
BRINGELLY — the tranquil pocket of rural acreage in the outer western suburbs — erupted into mayhem on Monday night with a home invasion, two stabbings, a shooting, a high-speed getaway in a bullet-riddled vehicle and a car crash that snapped a telegraph pole in half.
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MIDNIGHT in Bringelly, a tranquil pocket of rural acreage in the outer western suburbs, is usually as quiet as it gets in greater Sydney.
But on Monday night there was mayhem on Mersey Rd that produced in rapid succession: a home invasion, two stabbings, a shooting, a high-speed getaway in a bullet-riddled vehicle and a car crash powerful enough to snap a telegraph pole in half.
It all began, according to police, when a young woman called on one of the properties along the sparsely populated street to collect some “clothing and other belongings” from a house she once lived in.
Kristen Moriarty was allegedly accompanied by a bikie associate, wearing a balaclava and armed with a knife, when they dropped in just before 11.30pm.
The 32-year-old man linked to the Rebels and Moriarty, 28, allegedly forced their way in. Shortly afterwards 44-year-old Vince Datillo, who was inside, was stabbed twice in the stomach and once in the back and a 38-year-old woman at the home was stabbed in the neck. Another 44-year-old male occupant was uninjured.
As the alleged invaders turned on their heels, Datillo allegedly grabbed an unregistered rifle and began shooting at the pair as they backed out of the driveway.
“A 35-year-old man armed himself with a 303 Winchester rifle and opened fire upon the male and female leaving the address,” detective acting superintendent Paul Albury said.
Two shots hit the driver’s side door of the Holden Colorado and at least one hit the 32-year-old man in the arm.
The pair’s high-speed getaway only lasted another five kilometres when the car slammed into a telegraph pole, snapping it at the base, on The Northern Road at Luddenham.
The man was taken to hospital under police guard while Moriarty was cuffed and taken to Liverpool Police Station. She was yesterday charged with six offences, including two counts of attempted murder and two counts of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Datillo and the seriously injured woman went to his parents’ home at a neighbouring property while the uninjured 44-year-old called an ambulance. Both were taken to hospital.
Police later found the rifle and a bullet casing on the ground outside the home of Datillo’s parents as friends and relatives turned up in luxury cars, including a Maserati.
The pieces are still being put together but police are investigating whether Moriarty had recently been staying at the Mersey Rd address and had been in a dispute over items at the house.
“I don’t believe it was any more complex than clothing and other belongings of the 28-year-old woman, that’s what we will be alleging,” Supt Albury said.
“From all perspectives, this is an alarming incident.
“It must have been a terrifying incident where there was forced entry … a number of people were stabbed inside the premises. At the same token the level of violence in firing a .303 Winchester rifle at a moving vehicle is an alarming escalation.”
Next-door neighbour Jo Vella said he and his wife were still in bed when they heard a peppering of loud gunfire over a 15-second period.
“It’s pretty scary, you’re in bed and you don’t know whether you’re going to be the one shot or stabbed,” Mr Vella said.
“I was going to get up but the wife said ‘it’s got nothing to do with you, stay there’.”
Moriarty is due to face Liverpool Local Court today while Datillo and the two others injured in the altercation remained in hospital last night.
BRINGELLY: The Northern Rd remains closed between Badgerys Creek Rd and Adams Rd due on ongoing police investigations. Avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/Mhr0UB6Um3
— Live Traffic Sydney (@LiveTrafficSyd) July 16, 2018
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
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