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‘Pretty scary’: Wild details emerge after public shooting in Gregory Hills shopping centre

Police swarmed a shopping centre in the city’s southwest on Friday morning after reports of a shooting.

Police have swarmed a shopping centre after several shots were fired near a gym in Sydney’s southwest,with two masked men fleeing the scene.

Police confirmed there was an operation under way in the shopping centre carpark in Gregory Hills shortly after 8.30amon Friday.

“There is a large police presence in the area,” a statement said.

Police allege a number of shots had been fired towards a man outside a gym,who fled the scene in a white Toyta HiLux.

“The man is believed to have left the scene immediately,” they said.

A hooded man was seen at the scene of the Gregory Hills gym shooting. Picture: SCN Worldstar
A hooded man was seen at the scene of the Gregory Hills gym shooting. Picture: SCN Worldstar
Two masked men fled the scene of the shooting. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone
Two masked men fled the scene of the shooting. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone
Police have swarmed a shopping centre after a shooting at a gym near a shopping centre in Sydney’s southwest. Picture: 9News
Police have swarmed a shopping centre after a shooting at a gym near a shopping centre in Sydney’s southwest. Picture: 9News

Dozens of officers could be seen blocking off a section of the car park near the shopping centre as the operation continues.

The alleged victim was seen speaking to an officer at the gym.

“We have spoken with him this morning,” Acting Superintendent Gretchen Atkins told reporters on Friday morning.

“He’s not assisting us with our inquiries at this point in time.”

The alleged victim has spoken with police. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone
The alleged victim has spoken with police. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone
Witnesses reported seeing men in balaclavas. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone,
Witnesses reported seeing men in balaclavas. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone,

Lucas, who witnessed the incident, told 2GB’s Ben Fordham he was at work when they saw “two people with balaclavas on their head” and armed with weapons.

He said the gunmen allegedly fired “eight or nine” shots before fleeing the scene.

Police confirmed two men were seen in the carpark wearing dark clothing and face coverings.

“At this point in time, we know that the two shooters fled from the scene and the rest of the information is still being gathered,” she said.

“They were both armed with firearms, which is obviously our concern.”

Witnesses said they saw men with balaclavas firing “eight or nine” shots before fleeing. Picture: 9News
Witnesses said they saw men with balaclavas firing “eight or nine” shots before fleeing. Picture: 9News

Another witness, Jack, claimed he heard several rounds being fired in the parking lot.

“We just heard, like, 10 shots fired in the carpark,” he told the radio host.

“We’ve gone in a back room.

“(It’s) pretty scary.”

There are no reports of injuries.

Superintendent Atkins said the carpark was “exceptionally busy” at the time of the shooting.

“This is a really busy carpark, there are so many people and cars and it is just fortunate that no person was injured seriously or killed,” she said.

“We are very, very concerned about the actions of these two people this morning.”

Anyone with dash cam or mobile phone footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as ‘Pretty scary’: Wild details emerge after public shooting in Gregory Hills shopping centre

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/breaking-news/police-operation-under-way-after-public-shooting-in-gregory-hills-shopping-centre/news-story/0f6c798ff125576fe3583015ed6d2024