Aberglasslyn: Man critical after shot in abdomen outside home, three men seen fleeing scene

Neighbours heard yelling and screaming before a “loud bang” and a man hunched over on the driveway. Police investigate possible bikie links in “targeted” shooting.

Police are investigating are a man was shot on Golden Whistler Ave at Aberglasslyn on Tuesday March 9. Picture Amy Ziniak

A neighbour said he awoke to a “loud bang” before his partner yelled “they’ve got a shot gun”.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteer ran to the window, as he heard the noise of a car do a burn-out down the street, and saw a man hunched over in the driveway.

He ran to help, with a number of other concerned neighbours nearby, as they told the 34-year-old to “roll over and lay down”.

He had been shot in the stomach.

Police are on the hunt for a group of men after a public place shooting at Aberglasslyn on Tuesday March 9 where a man was shot in the stomach. Picture Amy Ziniak

“He was thrashing about so I held his legs to keep him calm,” the neighbour said.

“Another neighbour grabbed a towel and was compressing the wound.”

Emergency crews were called to the home on Golden Whistler Ave at Aberglasslyn, near Maitland, at about 10.45pm on Tuesday, after reports of shots being fired.

Police have been told the man was outside the home when he became involved in an altercation with three men, and was shot.

The group of men were seen fleeing the scene in a white Mitsubishi Magna, which was later located on fire in Railway Pde, Telarah.

Other neighbours across the road said they heard yelling and commotion coming from the property just before 10.30pm last night before a gunshot and a lady screaming.

“We looked out the window and a car, a Magna, was speeding off down the street,” neighbours Linda and Alfred said.

“We went across the road and a man was breathing heavily and it looked like his stomach was distended.

Police are investigating are a man was shot on Golden Whistler Ave at Aberglasslyn on Tuesday March 9. Picture Amy Ziniak

“We told him to slow his breathing down and called an ambulance.”

They detailed how the 34-year-old injured man “did not look good”.

“He was greyish blue,” they added.

“We didn’t think he would make it.”

He was transported to Maitland Hospital before being flown to John Hunter Hospital where he underwent surgery and remains in a critical but stable condition.

Police set up a crime scene and are investigating the incident as a public place shooting.

They’re now exploring whether the shooting had any links to outlaw motorcycle gang members, with one suspect known to them.

“We are working under the assumption that it was a targeted attack,” Detective Superintendent Chad Gillies said.

“We don’t have a clear motive as to what the dispute was about, except that one of the suspects is known to the victim but it’s too early to speculate.

“It’s really important to identify where these three offenders are and securing that firearm.

“Anyone who does have information or knowingly harbours these three individuals is potentially committing a criminal offence.

“My message to that individual and the other two males involved in the incident is to please hand yourself into the local police station at the earliest opportunity.”

Neighbours told The Newcastle News, people had moved into the house, where the man was found, mid to late last year and there was always screaming, shouting and yelling coming from the home.

They revealed there was always a lot of cars at the property and noise coming from the home all hours of the night.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.