Son shot in groin, father stabbed after asking neighbours to ‘be quiet’

A father and son have life-threatening injuries and a gunman is on the run after an attack on the Gold Coast that police say began with a dispute over noise.

A 44-year-old man was at home in his Peninsula Drive unit in the heart of Surfers Paradise with his two sons, aged 21 and 23, when a domestic dispute began in the unit upstairs shortly before 2am on Monday.

“Our 44-year-old victim has verbally intervened, asking them to be quiet so he could get to work,” Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said.

The unit block on Peninsula Drive, Surfers Paradise, where the violence broke out. Credit: Google

The alleged offender fired a warning shot from a black revolver from his back balcony onto the ground below, outside the victim’s unit.

“A couple of minutes after that – we’re not sure exactly the time frame there – but our offender has then come down and confronted the victim, and an altercation has occurred in the common area of that unit complex,” Mooney said.

The victim’s two sons rushed to their father’s aid.

During the fight, the father was stabbed in his leg, neck and head.

His 21-year-old son was shot twice, once in the stomach and once in the groin, and also suffered stab wounds to his back and hand.

Both were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a life-threatening condition, but Mooney said both were expected to survive.

The 23-year-old son suffered injuries to his foot and hand and was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Police believe the 30-year-old alleged gunman, who they identified as Mitchell Barnes, suffered a laceration to his skull and possibly a broken arm and would be in need of medical attention.

He fled in a white Mazda hatchback, which was later found abandoned at Helensvale.

He was then believed to have travelled in a 2005 black Toyota Camry sedan with NSW registration DL 48 YW.

A black six-shot revolver was recovered from the scene of the shooting.

“There were three shots fired during the incident and that is consistent with what’s left in the gun,” Mooney said.

But he warned the public the alleged shooter could still be armed.

“We’ve had warnings of him being armed before,” he said.

Police believe the alleged attacker kept the knife, which was attached to a key ring for a green motorbike that was found covered in blood outside the unit block and later taken from the scene.

Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles told ABC Radio Gold Coast the first officers at the scene rendered first aid to the father and his severely injured son.

“On arrival [police] found themselves knee-deep in having to perform tactical first aid,” he said.

“The appeal is for that gentleman to give himself up,” he said of the gunman. “This isn’t going away.”

The alleged shooter’s 38-year-old female partner left the scene before police arrived, and has been asked to contact police.

“[Their] altercation was purely verbal … there’s been no indication that she’s been injured,” Mooney said.

He warned members of the public not to approach the alleged attacker but to call triple zero if they saw him.

Any witnesses, or anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam vision, were urged to contact Policelink on 13 14 44 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.