One man arrested, police hunt for second after shots fired in Austral in Sydney’s southwest

A man charged over a late-night suburban shooting in Sydney’s southwest — after which a local plumber chased two suspects down the road — has appeared in court.

A man charged over a late-night suburban shooting in Sydney’s south-west — after which a local plumber chased two suspects down the road — has appeared before a court.

Bexley man Amer Soliman, 30, did not apply for bail when his matter was mentioned for the first time at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

He is facing four charges — firing a firearm into a house with reckless disregard for the safety of others, possessing a loaded firearm, knowingly driving a stolen conveyance and dishonestly interfering with a unique identity.

Police will allege Soliman “recklessly” discharged a semi-automatic silver pistol towards a home in Seventheen Ave, Austral about 11pm on Thursday.

They will also allege that around the sametime he was “knowingly” driving a stolen white Hyundai.

Soliman will remain behind bars until he returns to court at a later date.

Plumber chases alleged gunmen

On Friday, a western Sydney plumber described the moment he chased after two alleged gunmen in Austral.

Police were called following reports a home had been shot up about 11.30pm on Thursday. Minutes later a vehicle had crashed on Craik Ave before two men ran from the scene. 

Daniel Klinsic was asleep in his western Sydney home when he and his wife were woken by the loud noise.

Wearing no shoes and just his pyjamas, the dad of three rushed outside and began pursuing the alleged offenders.

“I gave chase barefooted. I was about fifty metres away from him, but obviously, being barefooted, I couldn’t run any further. I could see exactly what he was wearing, I saw the whole lot,” he said.

The crime scene.

Plumber Daniel Klinsic.

Mr Klinsic said he acted “without thinking.”

“It was just natural instinct. Get the prick down on the floor,” he said.

Mr Klinisc said he was within 50 metres of catching the man, but was stopped by gravel.

“He was panting. [I was thinking] ‘I’m gonna get ya, I’m gonna get ya. But then I hit gravel. I can’t run gravel in barefoot.”

CCTV shows people running from the scene.

He admits it was “probably lucky he didn’t catch him” as the man allegedly had a gun.

“When it’s around my family, I just kick in, I didn’t think about guns. If I had of had shoes on I would have got him.

“I saw the magazine and that’s when it kicked in – this could have turned nasty,” he said.

Police doing a line search outside a house in Austral which is believed to have been shot at.

Police doing a line search on Friday.

Officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command found bullet casings and a fuel canister inside the abandoned vehicle on Craic Ave last night.

Inquiries revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen.

With assistance from the Dog Unit, an empty pistol magazine was found on Seventeenth Ave.

Detectives searching the area for potential weapons. Picture: Emily Kowal

Police performing a line search in nearby bushland in Austral. Picture: Emily Kowal

Police arrested and later charged a 30-year-old man with four offences.

Officers have since discovered bullet casings and a fuel canister inside the abandoned vehicle on Craick Ave, and a silver handgun in nearby bushland with two more bullet casings.

At around 11:30am, two additional bullets were found nearby, causing police to extend the crime scene.

At least six shots were fired at the family home, with neighbours describing the attack as “terrifying”.

The crime scene.

Evidence found outside a house in Austral.

Sixteenth Ave has been cordoned off as police search the area. Picture: Emily Kowal

Detectives filling bags of evidence on Friday morning. Picture: Emily Kowal

Fortunately, no one was injured in the shooting.

Safaa Alkhurga lives next door the house targeted in the attack, and was watching television when he heard gunshots.

“We have only been here for one month … we moved from Iraq,” he said.

“We saw everything in Iraq. We came here to be safe. For this to happen is big trouble.”

Inquiries are ongoing.

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