Alleged gunman Sinve Vulic fronts court after solicitor Van Cooney shot in Sydney’s CBD
A 79-year-old man who allegedly shot a solicitor inside his Sydney CBD office on Wednesday afternoon has appeared in court.
NSW
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A 79-year-old man has been identified for the first time after he allegedly shot a solicitor in the groin inside his Sydney office.
Sinve Vulic appeared in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday over the alleged attempted murder of Van Cooney.
The CBD law firm was rocked by gunfire on Wednesday when Vulic allegedly calmly entered its ninth floor offices, pulled out a gun and shot a solicitor in what police believe was a personal dispute.
Police will allege the shooter got out of the lift in the offices of Van Cooney Lawyers in Castlereagh Street carrying a bag with a sawn off M1 carbine semi-automatic rifle inside, and holding a pistol.
Vulic asked to see Van Cooney himself and then shot the 77-year-old solicitor in the groin with the pistol, police will allege.
He was charged overnight with shoot at with intent to murder; two counts of acquire pistol-subject to firearms prohibition order; two counts of possess loaded firearm endanger life non-public place; and two counts of possess unauthorised prohibited firearm.
On Thursday, Mr Vulic’s lawyer Ken Buckman appeared in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court to ask for his client to receive medical assistance from Justice Health.
Magistrate Ian Guy responded that all inmates on remand are “screened as they come in” and he would “leave it at that”.
Mr Vulic will return to court in May.
Several employees, including Mr Cooney himself, are said to have ho pinned the shooter down, while police rushed to the scene.
While Vulic was taken into custody, Mr Cooney was in an ambulance on his way to St Vincent’s Hospital. He remains in hospital in a stable condition.
The building is also home to the Greek Consulate General, O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors and Denison Toyer Lawyers.
Police were called to the scene about 12.50pm as commuters and CBD workers flooded the streets for lunch.
At least 10 police cars and five ambulances rushed to Castlereagh Street and entered the building where they found Mr Cooney with a gunshot wound. Responding police officers sprinted down the street through the public as they scrambled to pull on their body armour.
Detective Inspector David El-Badawi said the incident occurred solely within the building, despite some reports of activity outside and said the alleged triggerman was held down by at least “five or six people” inside.
“The call came through and said multiple people had been shot,” he said.
“Police attended the scene within three minutes and at the scene we found one alleged male offender who was being held down by staff members in the premises.”
It is not suggested that the arrested man worked in the building.
Paramedic Dominic Wong confirmed the bullet had gone into the victim’s groin.
“I do believe the projectile entered his body,” he said.
According to one business owner on another floor, police told tenants they would not be allowed to return if they left the building.
“We overheard them saying there had been a shooting on level nine,” the business owner said.
Staff at nearby buildings, including the Transport for NSW headquarters and NSW parliament a few blocks from the crime scene, were instructed not to go outside.
Arabella Fennessy and Peniana Blair were walking around the CBD when they heard and saw a flurry of lights and sirens.
“We were walking around and just got off the bus on Elizabeth Street and on the bus we heard so many ambulances,” Ms Fennessy said.
Ms Blair said the pair then saw a man carried out of the building on a stretcher.
“We saw a man go into the ambulance and there were heaps of paramedics,” she said.
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Originally published as Alleged gunman Sinve Vulic fronts court after solicitor Van Cooney shot in Sydney’s CBD
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