Woman dies after drive-by shooting at Ambarvale home in Sydney’s southwest

A 65-year-old woman was killed by a piece of shrapnel after her home was peppered with bullets in what police believe was a “warning shot” intended for another target.

A woman was killed in a drive-by targeting this house. Picture: Aymon Bertah

A mother was hit and killed by a piece of shrapnel when her family home was targeted with a “warning shot”, police believe.

The 65-year-old woman died on the floor of an Ambarvale home late on Monday night amid frantic scenes as her 34-year-old son tried to save her after she was hit with bullet fragments.

Distressed neighbours said at least five shots were fired at the Dickens Road house, just after 11pm.

Moments later, they heard blood curdling screams as the woman’s son called for out help.

Police sources told The Daily Telegraph that initial investigations indicated the woman was not the intended target of the shooting, but that the gunmen was sending a “warning” to someone in the house.

It is understood at least one of the family members is known to police.

Police said three people got out of a black sedan before firing multiple bullets the house.

Campbelltown Police Superintendent Grant Healey said it was a “targeted attack”.

“Initial reports say that up to three people got out of a dark coloured sedan before firing several shots at the house and then leaving,” he said.

Police remove the body of a woman from the home in Ambarvale. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Supt Healey said there was a 34-year-old man, a 21-year-old woman along with the 65-year-old woman in the house at the time of the shooting.

“We haven’t been able to find the black sedan or any of the weapons,” Supt Healey said.

“If anybody in the area has CCTV, along Dickens Rd or Copperfield Drive, police would be very appreciative if they could contact us.”

Supt Healey told media the family had only been living at the house for six to eight weeks.

“It’s a tragedy that (a) grandmother has been shot by cowards out the front of (their) house,” he said.

Earlier, neighbour, Shaun Burridge, said he heard “five big bangs”.

He said that was then followed by “someone screaming” and when they went to the bottom of their driveway, police were already on scene.

Mr Burridge said he heard a man yelling “someone shot my mum”.

He said before the shooting he heard a man “apparently having an argument” on the phone further up the road.

Evidence in Dickens Road in Ambarvale where last night a female died after a drive by shooting of a property. Picture: Julian Andrews

Another neighbour, Louise Hoser, said she heard “at least 10” gunshots, adding it was “just so crisp a sound” and it was like “pop, pop, pop”.

It forced her to pause the show and look out her back window, but she couldn’t see any flames or smoke, thinking there could have been a car on fire.

About 20 minutes later, Ms Hoser saw multiple police cars, ambulances and lights on her street.

Neighbour Louise Hoser. Picture: Julian Andrews

Local resident Shaun Burridge. Picture: Julian Andrews.

She said she didn’t realise it was a shooting until social media posts, but added it “wasn’t nice to hear”.

Ms Hoser said it was “devastating” and “shocking” to hear the woman had died, even if she personally didn’t know her.

“It’s just so horrible it’s in our area again, in our street again,” she said.

Dickens Road in Ambarvale where last night a female died after a drive by shooting of a property. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Ms Hoser said she could hear the woman’s family “hysterical” on the street after the shooting.

Police, with assistance from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, have established Strike Force Apslawn to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A number of evidence markers have been laid outside an Ambarvale home after a woman was fatally shot in a drive by. Picture: Julian Andrews

A crime scene has partitioned much of Dickens Rd in Ambarvale with yellow evidence markers laid out outside the home where the woman was fatally shot.

Bullet holes can be seen on the front wall of the home as detectives and forensics remain at the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

More to come.

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Originally published as Woman dies after drive-by shooting at Ambarvale home in Sydney’s southwest