Illawarra siege: Man in court accused of shooting teen in chest with bow and arrow

A man has been charged after allegedly shooting a 19-year-old man in the chest with a bow and arrow, before sparking a six-hour standoff with police. Here’s what happened in court.

A Wollongong man will remain in custody after allegedly shooting a 19-year-old man in the chest with a bow and arrow.

He fled the scene and sparked a six-hour standoff with police after he allegedly barricaded himself in a unit.

The standoff came to an end when he was arrested shortly before 10pm on Wednesday night.

Kalobe Turnbull, 22, was identified in Wollongong Local Court but did not appear on Thursday.

He was charged with recklessly causing a wound to a man with an arrow from a compound bow around 11am on Wednesday; and possessing 0.81 grams of methylamphetamine, which was allegedly discovered following the siege, documents tendered to court said.

The court further heard Turnbull was on parole at the time.

Turnbull did not apply for bail, nor appear in court via audiovisual link and his release was formally refused.

The man who allegedly barricaded himself in the Coniston unit was arrested and taken to Wollongong Command. Picture: Dylan Arvela

On Wednesday, police were called to a housing estate on Heaslip St in Coniston near the Wollongong CBD at around 4pm following reports a man had been shot with a bow and arrow.

Police allege Turnbull fired an arrow with a compound bow earlier in Spearing Parade, Gwynneville.

According to police, the arrow hit the 19-year-old man in the chest, who the Illawarra Star understands was in a wheelchair.

It is further understood the men did not know each other.

The 19-year-old presented to Wollongong Hospital with a stab wound to the chest and was treated, before being transferred to St George Hospital for further treatment.

Tactical officers leaving the scene. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Police were notified and, following inquiries, went to the Coniston address to speak to the 22-year-old man, who allegedly ran from police and entered a two-storey house in the estate.

The man allegedly refused police directions to exit the property, barricading himself inside.

As many as 50 police, including the tactical officers and the dog unit, responded with residents of neighbouring units forced to evacuate.

The dog unit was involved in the operation. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Following negotiations, officers arrested the man inside a roof cavity without incident about 9.10pm.

“There was a police operation this afternoon,” Wollongong Police Chief Inspector Michael Dykes said on Wednesday evening.

“We had a male in the house who we believe was wanted for serious offences so we have contained and negotiated.

“He wouldn’t communicate with us whatsoever so we’ve done an entry and resolved the incident peacefully.”

The man was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged.

The two-storey unit where a man allegedly barricading himself inside. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The Illawarra Star understands the man was tasered and was treated by paramedics for minor cuts before being conveyed to Wollongong Police Station.

Residents were allowed to return to their homes at around 10pm with around a dozen waiting out on the street for the duration of the incident.

“We were out the front and one police rocked up and told us we couldn’t go in,” he said.

“I’ve never seen (the man) before… he doesn’t live there (in the unit complex).”

In court, documents said he was also charged, following his arrest, with an unrelated matter of entering a building with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely larceny, between 11pm on July 26 this year and 4am the following morning at a car wash, Wash n Shine, on the Princes Highway, Unanderra.

He allegedly stole $3000 in cash, the documents said.

All matters in Turnbull’s case were adjourned August 31.