Man shoots colleague with nail gun at Sydney Buddhist temple before turning it on himself

ONE man shot another in the head with a nail gun before turning the device on himself at a Buddhist temple in Sydney’s south west, police said.

Rossmore Temple Nail Gun

ONE man shot another in the head with a nail gun before turning the device on himself at a Buddhist temple in Sydney’s south west, police said.

A 29-year-old monk remains in a critical condition with a nail embedded in the front of his head after a “dispute” yesterday afternoon.

Another man, 59, is in a stable condition after having a nail removed from behind his ear.

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Detective inspector James Johnson of Green Valley police said it was too early to say which of the men was responsible for the shooting.

The temple where two men were shot in the head with a nail gun yesterday.

Police discovered the older man, who holds a senior position at the temple, outside the room where the shooting took place shortly before 3.30pm.

The younger man was still inside.

“It would appear there was a dispute between the two men and one used a nail gun to shoot the other and then, it would appear, shot himself,” Det Insp Johnson said.

Police have been unable to speak to either victim and language barriers have frustrated interviews with witnesses.

“We’re utilising interpreters, it’s a long, slow process,” he said.

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Both men remain in intensive care in Liverpool Hospital, believed to be in induced comas.

Police have seized the nail gun for forensic examination.

“We’re about to scale back investigations at the temple and get everyone together to try to discover what’s happened.”

The four-hectare Vat Ketanak Khmer Kampuchea Krom temple on Wynyard Ave, Rossmore is home to around 11 monks, of both Cambodian and Australian nationality.

Monks photographed during more peaceful times at the temple.

Miller resident and temple-goer Thanh Tan said he had never heard of any trouble there.

“It’s a peaceful place ... a peaceful religion,” Mr Tan said.

“I don’t understand this.”

Construction is under way at the temple but police do not believe the monks were involved in building work when the incident occurred.