Shooter hunted down ex, tried to shoot her parents before turning gun on himself in western Sydney

A mother separating from her husband was seeking refuge at her parent’s western Sydney home when her ex-partner allegedly fired a gun at the family, before his body was discovered a short time later.

A mother separating from her husband was seeking refuge at her parent’s western Sydney home when her ex-partner allegedly fired a gun at the family, before his body was discovered a short time later.

The 50-year-old mother of two from Victoria had moved into her parent’s Auburn home “two to three” weeks ago “as part of planning separation from her husband”, after 23 years of marriage.

NSW Police said the woman’s 50-year-old husband travelled to the Antwerp St home on Tuesday night from Victoria, before “becoming enraged and smashing the front window” of the home.

“A 20-year-old male and 15-year-old female who are the children of that couple and also a couple in their seventies who are the parents of the female (were also inside the home),” South West Metropolitan Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said on Wednesday.

“The male has forced open the front door but he did not enter the premises.”

Police were first called to a home on Antwerp St in Auburn after a shot was fired. Picture: Sunrise

Mr. McFadden said the man then pulled out a handgun and fired it at his father-in-law but it “did not operate” before looking at his mother-in-law.

“He then turned the handgun towards the woman aged in her seventies and a shot was discharged inside the premises. It did not hit anyone inside,” Mr. McFadden said.

The 50-year-old then left the address and attempted to carjack a 56-year-old woman driving in the immediate area. She did not stop, was able to avoid the area and reported the incident to police.

He then attempted another carjacking — of a vehicle driven by a male in his fifties and his 15-year-old daughter in the front passenger seat.

Bullet holes and smashed glass from shots fired can be seen at a home on Antwerp St in Auburn. Picture: Tamaryn McGregor

“A shot has been fired into the car of the driver’s window and impacting the right shoulder and facial area of the driver,” Mr McFadden said.

During a subsequent extensive search of the area, police located the body of the 50-year – old man in Duck Creek in Auburn shortly after 2.15am.

A firearm was also located at the scene and seized for forensic examination.

Mr. McFadden said it was unclear what the man’s motivation was in attending the Auburn home or who his target was but said the mother was taking early transition steps towards that separation.”

He also confirmed “the man had no criminal history “of any substance”. “Victoria has had no active interactions with him for 10 years,” he said.

“The investigation is very live and active at the moment and we are working with our Victorian colleagues to understand the background,” he said.

It is understood the 50-year-old man was not licensed to hold the firearm and had travelled to NSW “a very short time — hours or days — before the incident”.

A man was shot in his vehicle and rushed to hospital. Picture: Sunrise

Today, NSW Police began Operation Amarok VII “holding high risk DV offenders to account.”

“I’m very thankful we do not have another tragic domestic violence related homicide on our hands,” Mr McFadden said.

“Arrests have already started as part of the operation.”

A resident on the street said she was in her bed when she heard shouting and screaming from the home up the road.

During a subsequent extensive search of the area, police located the body of a man in Duck Creek. Picture: Sunrise

“I heard a lot of shouting. It was mainly a male shouting and then there was a lady screaming,” she said.

“It was a single scream and then I heard a gun shot.

“I’ve never heard a gunshot before but I knew it was a gunshot because it sounded so loud.”

The neighbour said she then got out of her bed once she heard the commotion.

“I saw someone in a car back out of the driveway of the house,” she said.

“He was going back and forth on the footpath and then we heard police sirens.

“He must’ve seen them drive up too.”

Another neighbour said she heard “a lot of smashing” and yelling from the property on Tuesday night.

“I heard a man screaming ‘get out of my house’ and then a grandmother screaming,” the resident said.

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