Point Lonsdale man, 55, charged and faces court over daylight shooting in quiet coastal town

Point Lonsdale’s Neil Harrington has faced court accused of a wild shooting which has left a man fighting for life in hospital.

Police swarm exclusive Gill Rd in Point Lonsdale after a shooting, with one home cordoned off by police tape. Picture: Mandy Squires

Point Lonsdale’s Neil Harrington has faced court accused of shooting a man, who remains fighting for his life in The Alfred hospital.

It is understood the man, 37, was shot in the chest on Thursday morning, and is in a critical condition.

Mr Harrington did not apply for bail and was remanded back into custody, with the Geelong Magistrates’ Court told it was his first time behind bars and that the 55-year-old had a heart condition.

Point Lonsdale local Neil Harrington is accused of shooting a man in well-heeled Gill Rd. Picture: Supplied

Armed Crime Squad detectives late on Thursday night charged Mr Harrington with intentionally causing serious injury, reckless conduct (discharging a firearm), using an unregistered category A or B longarm, using a firearm in a dangerous manner and using a firearm in the commission of an indictable offence.

It comes amid reports of rising neighbourhood tensions in Point Lonsdale’s exclusive Gill Rd.

The injured man presented to a medical clinic in the small Bellarine Peninsula town reportedly yelling “I’ve been shot, I’ve been shot” about 10.30am on Thursday, before being treated by doctors and flown to Melbourne by air ambulance.

Police at the Point Lonsdale Medical Centre, where a man presented with a gunshot wound. Picture: Mike Dugdale

A Kia sedan is taped off in the clinic carpark. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Detectives converged on the medical centre on Thursday as part of their investigation and also swarmed well-heeled Gill Rd, where they cordoned off a home.

A witness who had been visiting the medical clinic said she saw the shot man curled up “in the foetal position”, writhing in pain outside the centre.

Several police units converged on Gill Rd — which abuts the Point Lonsdale Golf Club — following the shooting.

Gill Rd is lined with expensive homes. Picture: Mandy Squires

A home in Gill Rd is cordoned off with police tape. Picture: Mandy Squires

Police tape outside the home. Picture: Mandy Squires

Police talk outside the Gill Rd home. Picture: Mandy Squires

The street, which is lined with expensive homes, is just a short drive from the medical centre where the man was treated.

The oval where he was picked up by an air ambulance is next to the clinic.

Gill Rd residents reacted with shock to the daylight shooting, as details emerged about an ongoing dispute between neighbours.

Across the road from the taped-off house, the words “you can’t hide biatch (sic)” have been scrawled in yellow paint on a garage door.

Graffiti on a house on Gill Rd. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Neighbour George Joynson, 87, said there had been an ongoing tension between the occupants of that property and the home where the crime scene had been established.

Mr Joynson’s son, Mick, said the shooting in the quiet street was “disconcerting.”

Mr Harrington will face court again in March.

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

Originally published as Point Lonsdale man, 55, charged and faces court over daylight shooting in quiet coastal town