Gun crime: St George, Sutherland Shire shooting investigations
Young children were caught up in a shocking array of separate targeted shootings across Sydney’s south, which experienced a spate of gun violence over the summer. Police are now investigating several separate public shootings.
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A wave of shocking gun crime hit Sydney’s south over the summer, sparking several police investigations into various incidents across St George and the Sutherland Shire.
In several separate incidents young children were unwittingly caught up in the alleged violence, with several shootings taking place while girls and boys aged as young as two up to nine years old were present in the targeted homes or vehicles.
Here are the latest updates on several shootings across the city’s southern suburbs.
STRIKE FORCE CRUICKSHANK – ARNCLIFFE
Police labelled a targeted shooting at an Arncliffe home where two little girls were asleep a “disgrace” as they continue to hunt the people involved.
At 2am on December 27 an unknown person fired several shots from the driver’s window of a white Mercedes AMG into a Wollongong Rd home in Arncliffe, where members of the Jomaa family reside.
Two little girls aged two and three and two adults were inside sleeping at the time.
“This is ridiculous behaviour, it is absolutely unacceptable,” Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke from St George police
“It’s an absolute disgrace.”
Detectives believe the incidents are targeted and possibly linked to two separate public place shootings in Riverwood and Revesby in recent weeks.
Investigations are continuing.
STRIKE FORCE KIEWARRA – CARINGBAH + LUCAS HEIGHTS
A young woman was allegedly shot at a unit complex while a little girl was nearby and a man was found shot in both legs in bushland south of Sydney in a pair of appalling incidents detectives now believe are connected.
Just before 4am on March 29 Sutherland Shire police found a 30-year-old man with gunshot wounds to his legs in bushland off Heathcote Rd in Lucas Heights.
He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before he was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a stable condition.
Detectives now believe this incident is connected to another shooting at a Caringbah unit complex just days later.
Just after 2am on April 1 emergency services attended a Taren Point Rd unit complex following reports of shots fired.
Police located a 26-year-old woman with minor injuries to her face and hands in an apartment with a four-year-old girl, who was not injured.
The woman was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics.
Detectives have released CCTV footage of a man outside the unit complex in Caringbah, who may be able to assist with their investigation.
He has been described as wearing a hooded jumper, jeans and running shoes.
Sutherland Shire Police Area Command Crime Manager Andrea Panozzo urged the public to look closely at the vision.
“We are calling on the public for its assistance to locate this man, who may prove very beneficial to the investigation,” Det Insp Panozzo said.
“We’re also asking for anyone driving along Taren Point Road around that time on April 1 to come forward and speak with investigators, as you may have valuable information and dashcam vision that can greatly assist us.”
Det Insp Panozzo said police needed the public’s assistance to take those responsible for the shocking attacks off the street before they caused further harm.
“What we’re dealing with here – two public place shootings where two people have been injured and thankfully, a young girl was not – will not be tolerated in our community,” he said.
Police also believe a petrol tanker travelling on New Illawarra Rd may have dashcam vision of the Lucas Heights incident on March 29 and have urged them to make contact.
STRIKE FORCE BARLYN – BEXLEY
Police investigating two men who shot up a suburban Sydney home in a brazen daylight attack have said “it’s only a matter of time” until they find the pair responsible for the “abhorrent” act.
Two men in a Holden Commodore VT pulled up on Kingsland Rd, Bexley near the intersection with Stoney Creek Rd on January 13 at 6am before one fired two shots from a long arm into the home.
The bullets shattered the windows and embedded themselves in the home’s inner walls but neither of the male or female middle-aged occupants were injured.
Officers believe the attack was targeted toward a younger male who is known to police and lived at the home, though he was not inside at the time.
St George police’s acting commander Chief Inspector Chris Hill described the attack as “abhorrent”.
“It poses a significant risk to members of the public,” Insp Hill said.
“This is not acceptable, and police are now after the assistance of the general public.”
CCTV shows the two men in hoodies pulling up in a black or dark-coloured Commodore which has distinctive aftermarket silver rims, 18 or 19 inches in size.
The car is seen speeding from the area after one of the men, clearly seen carrying a long arm, discharges two shots into the home.
PUBLIC PLACE SHOOTING – ARNCLIFFE
A home in Arncliffe was shot up in a shocking dawn incident while two people were inside.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said police were appealing for information after shots were fired at a home on Station St early on October 17 last year.
“About 5.40am today police were called to a home on Station St in Arncliffe following reports shots were fired into the property,” the spokeswoman stated.
“Officers from St George Police Area Command established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the incident.”
A 31-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were at home when the shots were fired into the house but there are no reports of any injuries.
“No arrests have been made and inquiries are continuing,” the spokeswoman said.
A member of a Rockdale community group on Facebook said he heard about seven gunshots around 5.30am after local residents started speculating about the road closures on Station St.