Anthony Nugent: Strike Force Alcheringa detectives probe shooting victim’s history

Although he remained under the law enforcement radar for much of his life, Anthony Nugent’s nefarious activities have become front and centre of a strike force set up to hunt down his killer.

The term low-level criminal was created for people like Anthony Nugent, a man whose longish but unremarkable record of traffic offences and the odd property count could suggest a battler struggling to find his way from the wrong side of the tracks.

So when the 57-year-old was cold-bloodedly blasted in the chest at close range at the front door of his first-floor Housing NSW unit in the troubled Hamilton South housing estate it initially took a few people by surprise.

Anthony Nugent

Even his mug shot – widely shared across social media platforms when he was wanted for some of those low-level criminal matters nearly five years ago – appeared to depict the middle-aged, garden-variety persona which kept Nugent under the serious law enforcement radar.

But in death, Nugent’s possible links to criminal networks are now forming key lines of investigation for Strike Force Alcheringa detectives.

The strike force was set up in the hours after Nugent was shot after answering the door to his first-floor unit on Fowler St about 11pm on September 6.

And almost as quickly as the strike force was formed, senior police were describing the shooting as a “targeted attack” with The Newcastle News revealing Nugent appeared to have had a short conversation with his killer or killers before the gunfire.

Forensic experts at the entrance to the Hamilton South unit block where Anthony Nugent was shot after answering the front door to his first floor unit. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Now, it can be revealed Nugent was selling his fair share of heroin – some in the Newcastle criminal milieu suggest it could have been upwards of two ounces in good weeks.

And with heroin being sold in deals weighing one-tenth of grams – or points – that meant Nugent could have been feeding the equivalent of hundreds of hits of heroin a week when the game was on and the gear was available.

It still doesn’t mean he was a big player in the Newcastle underworld – Nugent was far from it and the low-level criminal moniker could still stick.

The crime scene on Fowler St the morning after the September 6 shooting. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

But what it could mean is that the targeted hit was because Nugent had upset someone who was one of those so-called big players in the Newcastle underworld and, even possibly, beyond.

What it has meant for Strike Force Alcheringa detectives is for them to continue the painstaking work of investigating Nugent‘s background as they hunt those responsible.

The “victimology”, as it is termed in investigative circles, will allow detectives to better understand Nugent’s life and who may have had a motive to kill him.

And although not a major player in the Hunter’s drug trade or criminal network, the level of violence in Nugent’s death has police quietly questioning why he would be targeted.

Newcastle City crime manager Detective Inspector Steve Benson said police were continuing to investigate leads and information into Anthony Nugent’s death. Picture by Peter Lorimer

All Newcastle City crime manager Det Insp Steve Benson was prepared to say was: “The investigation is continuing to follow up several lines of inquiry and information given to detectives in the last two weeks.

“We continue to ask anyone who has information to come forward.”

The Hamilton South community where Nugent was shot is a rough and tumble suburb with an unenviable reputation, possibly best illustrated by the fact that the only person to alert authorities to the gunshot blast at 11pm on a Tuesday night was Nugent’s frantic, long-term partner inside his unit.

There is no suggestion Nugent’s partner was part of the drug supply network or any other criminal activity.

Despite living in high-density housing unit blocks built next to one another, no one else rang Triple-0.

However, residents have been able to shed some information on Nugent, including his heroin dealing.

Whether they can shed some light on information which could lead to his killer or killers remains unclear.

Information should be forwarded to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.