Albert Sulemani fronts court over firearms and driving charges

A gun-wielding violent thug fired at a Chadstone house while trying to find his runaway girlfriend and nearly ran over a man during his wild crime spree.

Albert Sulemani has been sentenced to more than seven years' imprisonment for violent offending, including firing a shot at a house in search of his girlfriend.

A gun-toting Dandenong man who shot at a house and smashed into a car and a motorcycle while searching for his runaway girlfriend has been sentenced to more than seven years.

Albert Sulemani, 31, appeared for sentencing in the County Court on Tuesday after earlier pleading guilty to a string of charges, including prohibited person possess a firearm and cartridge, discharging a firearm, conduct endangering persons and theft of a vehicle.

Judge Michael Tinney said a lengthy custodial sentence was warranted given that Sulemani discharged a live round at a house that was occupied by a number of people.

He sentenced Sulemani to seven years’ and three months’ jail and ordered that he serve at least five years before he’s eligible for parole.

The court heard that Sulemani’s girlfriend ran to a friend’s home in Chadstone after an argument with him on the morning of August 6, 2023.

The following day, he arrived at the Chadstone house in a stolen Toyota Kluger and after failing to get inside the property, he drove towards a male who had to jump out of the way.

Albert Sulemani fronted the County Court where he was sentenced to seven years and three months’ imprisonment. Picture: Liam Beatty/ NewsWire.

Sulemani then drove into a motorcycle and a car that were parked out of the front of the house before driving away.

He returned to the property that afternoon and kicked the front door of the house before firing a shot at the door.

A neighbour told police he heard a bang, similar to a firecracker.

Ballistic experts said the bullet travelled through the lower front door, bounced off the floor of the hallway, hit the ceiling in the living room before landing on the floor.

Sulemani was arrested four days later at the Fountain Gate shopping centre and he refused to comment.

Judge Tinney said while no victim impact statements or even police statements were made by the house occupants, he hardly needed them to understand the impact Sulemani’s frightening offending has had on them.

“It was broad daylight and the unit was occupied. No one was actually hurt but that was just a matter of pure good fortune,” he said.

“You knew that the house was occupied by a number of people you were talking or arguing with at the door and a loaded firearm was discharged through the front door.”